DELAYED AIRWAY STENOSIS CAUSED BY TRAUMATIC RETROPHARYNGEAL HEMATOMA : A CASE REPORT

• Published in: Journal of the Japanese Association for the Surgery of Trauma Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: NAMATAME, Kaoru, KOBAYASHI, Tatsuho, YAMAMURA, Eiji, NAGAMINE, Yoshiyuki, YOKOBORI, Shoji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Association for the Surgery of Trauma 20.01.2025; 一般社団法人 日本外傷学会
• Subjects: airway emergencies; tracheal intubation; traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma; 外傷性咽頭後間隙血腫; 気管挿管; 気道緊急
• ISSN: 1340-6264; 2188-0190
• DOI: 10.11382/jjast.39.1_01

Background : Retropharyngeal hematoma (RPH) is a low-frequency injury that accounts for approximately 1% of all blunt trauma cases and can cause airway narrowing.　　Case : A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department with trauma following a traffic accident, and was diagnosed with RPH by computed tomography, revealing that the anteroposterior diameter of the posterior pharyngeal wall gap was C2 12 mm and C6 11.7 mm. Respiratory and circulatory control were well-maintained at the time of admission, but airway stenosis occurred 5 h after admission. Oral intubation was difficult, so cricothyrotomy was performed, with tracheostomy the following day. Airway stenosis improved after the disappearance of the hematoma. The tracheal tube was removed on the 42nd day, and the patient was discharged.　　Discussion : RPH can cause delayed airway narrowing, so close observation and appropriate airway management are important.