Carotid blowout syndrome

Abstract

Carotid blowout syndrome refers to the rupture of the carotid artery and its branches. Carotid blowout syndrome is a dangerous medical emergency typically resulting from complications of treatments for head and neck cancer. A patient without a prior history of head or neck cancer presented to the emergency department with a painless, enlarging neck mass was reported in this study. The mass progressed to acute airway obstruction during imaging of the lesion and necessitated emergency cricothyrotomy to secure the airway. The patient underwent four endovascular treatments to manage repeated bleeding thus producing the neurological complication of right middle cerebral artery infarction. Clinical manifestations, varied treatments, and common complications of carotid blowout syndrome were discussed.