Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm: A rare complication following tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children. The most frequent complications are dehydration and bleeding. We present the case of a 6 year old child who developed an internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following elective tonsillectomy, necessitating urgent coil embolization and stenting. This is the first reported case in the pediatric population of a vascular injury that manifested in a delayed fashion (6 months) after routine tonsillectomy, and is also one of the youngest reported cases. It is imperative for the otolaryngologist to be aware of this rare complication.