Life-threatening airway obstruction due to retropharyngeal and cervicomediastinal hematomas following stellate ganglion block.

ABSTRACT

Airway obstruction by retropharyngeal or cervicomediastinal hematomas following stellate ganglion block is life-threatening. The onset of the initial symptoms of retropharyngeal or cervicomediastinal hematoma usually occurs 2 hours or more after stellate ganglion block. We report the rare complication of airway obstruction leading to respiratory arrest caused by retropharyngeal and cervicomediastinal hematomas due to rebleeding of an ascending cervical artery 3 days after stellate ganglion block.