Severe postextubation laryngeal obstruction: The role of prior neck dissection and radiation

Aggressive treatment of advanced head and neck cancer may result in more patients undergoing surgery for unrelated illnesses. We present a case of a patient requiring emergency tracheostomy placement after a routine liver segment resection 10 yr after undergoing a bilateral modified radical neck dissection and radiation therapy. This type of patient may be at increased risk for both postoperative laryngeal edema and neuronal imbalance secondary to their preoperative condition.