Emergency control of intractable pharyngeal haemorrhagia

ABSTRACT

Intractable pharyngeal haemorrhage as a result of trauma or neoplastic erosion of a blood vessel in the neck is sometimes difficult to control. Considering the fact that the management has to be tailored according to the prevailing circumstances, surgical airway is established by tracheostomy using midline incision and then pharynx is packed with roll gauze using McIntosh Laryngoscope and McGill Forceps. The pack is left in the pharynx until proximal or distal control has been achieved. Decannulation is done after physiological, airways are normal. This method has been successfully used in two patients