title: Airway obstruction by a retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retropharyngeal hematoma is a rare form of pharyngeal pathology and can present as acute airway obstruction. Among the many causes of retropharyngeal hematoma, thoracic aortic rupture is extremely rare.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 78-year-old female with airway obstruction by a retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture was successfully treated by total aortic arch replacement and open stent-graft insertion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rupture of the thoracic aorta should be considered as a rare but important cause of retropharyngeal hematoma and airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyorin University, 6-20-2, Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. kub@ks.kyorin-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Hidehito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents