Fatal hemorrhage following surgery for head and neck carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the surgical management of fatal hemorrhage following head and neck surgery for cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 32 cases of fatal hemorrhage following head and neck surgery from 1976 to 2008 in our department were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>