Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm rupture: A case report

Background

Carotid artery pseudoaneurysms may cause massive oropharyngeal hemorrhage and upper airway obstruction due to mass effect. Life threatening complications may arise such as difficult airway or traumatic rupture of the aneurysm during the course of management. Here, we present a case of a 44-year-old male patient who developed multiple carotid pseudoaneurysms post-radiation therapy due to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We would like to take this as an opportunity to raise awareness among clinicians on the importance of triaging such patients with a multidisciplinary approach, specifically early involvement of anesthesiologists, radiologists, intensivists, ENT surgeons and vascular surgeons to optimize care and outcome.   

Keywords: Coiling, carotid artery, pseudoaneurysms, stenting, post radiation, massive hemorrhage, vascular surgery