Injury of the Major Vessels

Injury to the great vessels is a feared complication of any surgery involving the neck since it can lead to devastating consequences. It is imperative for the head and neck endocrine surgeon to have a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the great vessels of the neck, including their anomalous pathways. The scenarios in which the great vessels of the neck are injured can be observed by even the most experienced surgeons. Therefore, it is essential that every surgeon operating in the neck understands techniques for prevention of injury, and is prepared with a management algorithm for both intraoperative and postoperative haemorrhage.