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Hare R, Tyler ER, Tapia A, et al. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; January 2023. AHRQ Publication No. 23-0018.
Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy. March 15-16, 2023.
These cases describe the rare but dangerous complication of hematoma following neck surgery. The first case involves a patient with a history of spinal stenosis who was admitted for elective cervical discectomy and cervical disc arthroplasty who went into cardiopulmonary arrest three days post-discharge and could not be intubated due to excessive airway swelling and could not be resuscitated. Autopsy revealed a large hematoma at the operative site, causing compression of the upper airway, which was the suspected cause of respiratory and cardiac arrest.
ISMP Medication Safety Alert! Acute care edition. January 12, 2023;28(1):1-4.