Surgical management of severe common carotid artery injury after mediastinoscopy

Mediastinoscopy is a widely used method to achieve pathologic diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes or undefined mediastinal solid mass. Aortic arch penetration and injury of the supraaortic arteries are rare but very dangerous complications of mediastinoscopy. We describe the hazardous transportation of a 57-year-old woman after mediastinoscopic injury of the right common carotid artery and its successful repair with cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermia.