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Wave 2: Module 4: Carotid, Vascular access and Venous – Week 2 – Case 2
- September 15, 2025
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Uncategorized
You got called urgently to the recovery to assess a gentleman who just underwent a left carotid endartectomy as the nurse noticed that he has an obvious swelling underneath his surgical incision.
What is your approach for managing this?
hematoma until proved otherwise
first i check the airway quickly, if he is in distress i call anesthesia and open the wound immediately to release pressure
if airway is ok i take him back urgently to theatre to evacuate hematoma and stop bleeding
Post-CEA Neck Swelling
│
▼
Assess airway (ABC) + vital signs
│
┌─────┴ ——————─────┐
▼ ▼
Airway stable Airway compromised
(no stridor, (stridor, distress,
good O₂ sat ) rapidly expanding)
│ │
Prepare OR Open wound at bedside
Urgent return Evacuate hematoma to
to theatre secure airway → OR
│
▼
Re-open incision + evacuate hematoma
Secure bleeding point ± drain
ICU monitoring post-operative