Iatrogenic common carotid artery rupture during neck surgery rescued using covered stent: A case report

ABSTRACT

Carotid artery rupture during head and neck surgery is a catastrophic, life-threatening emergency. Although recent incidence has declined, it still occurs in many patients. Hemorrhage from the carotid artery is usually massive and uncontrollable. Fast, aggressive treatment to prevent hemodynamic instability is required. Even if patients survive this event, they may experience severe neurological sequelae. A ruptured carotid artery is usually controlled by direct compression and arterial ligation. However, apart from the inherent difficulty of operation, these traditional surgical treatments are associated with high morbidity and mortality. In the past two decades, endovascular management has become a mainstay of carotid rupture treatment. We report a case of successful recovery without any sequelae after cardiovascular collapse due to an unintentional common carotid artery (CCA) rupture during neck surgery. The exposed CCA was treated with a covered stent. In such a case, multidisciplinary cooperation is crucial.