Retropharyngeal hematoma as a new cause of acute upper airway obstruction in rheumatoid arthritis.
A patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving chronic anticoagulation therapy developed acute life threatening airway obstruction. The source of obstruction was a retropharyngeal hematoma compressing the upper airway rather than acute laryngeal dysfunction from the patient's RA. Our case illustrates a new cause of acute stridor and airway obstruction in RA. Publications on upper airway obstruction in RA and airway obstruction secondary to retropharyngeal hematoma are discussed.
Department of Medicine, Reading Hospital and Medical Center, PA.
J
J
Thatcher
D
D
George
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx; D011312:Pressure; D013467:Sulindac / Q000009:adverse effects; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
D013467:Sulindac; D014859:Warfarin