Accidental retropharyngeal dissection extending close to the right common carotid artery during nasotracheal intubation: a case report

BACKGROUND: Retropharyngeal dissection is a possible complication during nasotracheal intubation. We report a case of a retropharyngeal dissection extending close to the right common carotid artery occurring while inserting a nasotracheal tube. CASE PRESENTATION: An 81-year-old woman, scheduled for laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for a duodenal tumor under general anesthesia, sustained submucosal dissection of the retropharyngeal space during nasotracheal intubation. Postoperative computed tomography revealed retropharyngeal tissue injury extending close to the right common carotid artery. The patient was treated with prophylactic antibiotic therapy and discharged uneventfully on postoperative day 13. CONCLUSIONS: Submucosal dissection of the retropharyngeal tissue during nasotracheal intubation has a potential risk of major cervical vessel injury. Therefore, when the tip of the tube cannot be visualized within the oropharynx, clinicians must proceed with caution regarding the expected depth of the tube. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40981-023-00603-1.