Abstract

A 63-year-old Caucasian woman underwent total thyroidectomy for recurrent benign nodular goiter. She was discharged on the next day in a good condition. On the third postoperative day she was brought to the emergency unconscious with respiratory distress and enormous swelling of the neck. She was reoperated immediately and postoperative hematoma due to a bleeding from a small branch of the left superior thyroid artery was found. A definitive hemostasis was done. She stayed 10 days in the ICU on an artificial ventillation untill the swelling was relieved. Due to signs of infection the wound was opened and treated with negative pressure wound therapy at regular intervals. After extubation she was found to have phonation and eyesight disorders, fully recovered by conservative treatment in three weeks. The overall lenght of hospital stay was 41 days and she was discharged in a good condition.

Key words: postoperative cervical hematoma, redo thyroidectomy, risk factors.