Carotid artery blowout producing massive hematemesis in the emergency department

Abstract

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is a rare and fatal complication which arises from patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer. The incidence of CBS is rare and not commonly seen by emergency physicians. We review a case of a 68-year-old woman with a history of laryngectomy and chemo-radiation therapy presenting with massive oral bleeding and hypotension. Her course and treatments are highlighted, literature referring to CBS are described and we reintroduce the approach of managing such a patient in the emergency department.

Keywords

• Carotid artery blowout
• Massive hematemesis
• Oral bleeding
• Hypotension