title: Carotid blowout syndrome.
abstract: Carotid blowout syndrome refers to the rupture of the carotid artery and its branches. Carotid blowout syndrome is a dangerous medical emergency typically resulting from complications of treatments for head and neck cancer. A patient without a prior history of head or neck cancer presented to the emergency department with a painless, enlarging neck mass was reported in this study. The mass progressed to acute airway obstruction during imaging of the lesion and necessitated emergency cricothyrotomy to secure the airway. The patient underwent four endovascular treatments to manage repeated bleeding thus producing the neurological complication of right middle cerebral artery infarction. Clinical manifestations, varied treatments, and common complications of carotid blowout syndrome were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yuan's General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Shang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Chi-mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Ti
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Chi-mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Tai
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D015607:Stents; D013577:Syndrome