Abstract

Retropharyngeal hematoma (RH) is a rare but potentially serious complication of whiplash head trauma and anticoagulant-induced coagulopathy (AIC). The literature is undecided on the management of the hematoma by surgical drainage, and the data in the literature is abundant. We report two patients presented to emergency service with different etiologies and symptoms. The first case is the spontaneous RH of a patient who could not adjust the dosage of warfarin sodium they had been using long-term due to heart valve disease, and the second case is an isolated hematoma after minor head trauma in a child. While the first patient required an urgent tracheotomy, we applied conservative treatment in the second patient. The treatment of RH may differ according to etiology and severity of symptoms. Once symptoms of airway blockage arise, the airway must be immediately secured before complete obstruction occurs. The diagnosis of RH should be considered when an anticoagulated patient presents with upper airway symptoms.