Postoperative Upper Airway Blood Clot After Tonsillectomy Requiring a Suction Catheter Without Side Holes for Removal: A Case Report

Abstract

We present a case of acute dyspnea due to postoperative oral bleeding after tonsillectomy, wherein a blood clot obscured the laryngeal structures to such an extent that no recognizable structures could be identified. A larger-bore suction catheter without side holes proved necessary to solve the problem. The case illustrates how a gradually forming blood clot can remain asymptomatic until reaching a size where it poses an airway threat and highlights the necessity for readily available larger-bore suction devices without side holes. We consider this as an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of blood clot formation and its management.