Life-threatening Airway Edema after Arthroscopic Repair of Massive Rotator Cuff Tear: A Case Report

Shoulder arthroscopic surgeries are an accepted technique for many shoulder disease and have many advantages over open surgeries4,6). To date, shoulder arthroscopic surgery have been rare complications that compromise patient airway, caused by the leakage of irrigation fluid out of the shoulder joint space into the surrounding soft tissues and then the neck and the pharynx. This report presents a case of life-threatening airway obstruction due to extra-articular saline collection during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In concluding we should hourly check the patient's neck swelling undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery, because anesthetized patients cannot complain of the airway problem may progress until it becomes life-threatening.