Hematoma with Airway Compromise after Thyroidectomy

Education| January 2024 Hematoma with Airway Compromise after Thyroidectomy Jamel Ortoleva, M.D.; Jamel Ortoleva, M.D. 1Department of Anesthesiology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar F. Thurston Drake, M.D.; F. Thurston Drake, M.D. 2Department of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Amy Moor, C.R.N.A.; Amy Moor, C.R.N.A. 3Department of Anesthesiology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Rafael Ortega, M.D. Rafael Ortega, M.D. 4Department of Anesthesiology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8212-3471 Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Author and Article Information Supplemental Digital Content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are available in both the HTML and PDF versions of this article. Links to the digital files are provided in the HTML text of this article on the Journal's Web site (). Published online first on November 6, 2023. Address correspondence to Dr. Ortega: Anesthesiology January 2024, Vol. 140, 142–143. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000004718 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jamel Ortoleva, F. Thurston Drake, Amy Moor, Rafael Ortega; Hematoma with Airway Compromise after Thyroidectomy. Anesthesiology 2024; 140:142–143 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000004718 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsAnesthesiology Search Advanced Search Topics: airway device, airway structure, hematoma, thyroidectomy Shortly after the patient's trachea was extubated after a thyroidectomy, a rare but serious complication occurred. A rapidly expanding hematoma formed, leading to airway compromise and inadequate ventilation (fig. 1). Immediate action, including reintubation and evacuation of the hematoma, was required to address the situation (fig.2; Supplemental Video, https://links.lww.com/ALN/D258). The reported hematoma formation after thyroidectomy ranges broadly from 0.5 to 7% of cases.1 Risk factors include increasing age and male sex.2 While hematoma formation is known to occur, instances leading to airway obstruction are exceedingly rare.3 In such critical situations, prompt diagnosis and intervention are essential to prevent further deterioration and ensure adequate oxygenation. Immediate measures including reintubation may be necessary, and the anesthesia and surgical teams must carefully coordinate their response. Managing airway emergencies after thyroidectomy requires a multidisciplinary approach including strategic extubation planning, maintaining surgical field sterility, and ensuring the... You do not currently have access to this content.