Fulminant post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage caused by aberrant course of the external carotid artery.
Haemorrhage, throat pain and otalgia are common complications following tonsillectomy. Haemorrhage is rarely life-threatening but in this paper we describe a fulminant secondary haemorrhage due to an aberrant external carotid artery in an eight-year-old boy. Acute surgical intervention with ligation of the external carotid artery was needed to control the bleeding.
Hofman
Rutger
R
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.hofman@kno.umcg.nl
Zeebregts
Clark J
CJ
Dikkers
Frederik G
FG
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery