title: [Fatal hemorrhage following surgery for head and neck carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the surgical management of fatal hemorrhage following head and neck surgery for cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 32 cases of fatal hemorrhage following head and neck surgery from 1976 to 2008 in our department were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemorrhage was caused by carotid blowout in 20 cases. The carotid ligation was performed in 13 cases, only 6 cases got long-term survival. In 12 cases, hemorrhage was caused by tracheo-innominate artery fistula, only 2 cases received surgical management, and no long-term survivors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatal hemorrhage following head and neck surgery is an uncommon but frequently fatal complication, and the successful management of it depends on early diagnosis and correct treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Zhen-gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shao-yan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong-fa
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Ping-zhang
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008026:Ligation; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult