Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Case Report

Subcutaneous Emphysema and Inflammation of the Neck after Tracheal Puncture by an Intubating Stylet.: Gul Jung, Woo Mok Byun, Hyung Jun Lim, Jong Gyun Kim, Dong Min Kwak, Deok Hee Lee, Sae Yeon Kim, Sun Ok Song, Il Sook Seo, Dae Lim Jee, Heung Dae Kim, Dae Pal Park; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2007;24(2):344-344. Published online December 31, 2007; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2007.24.2.344

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Abstract PDF: Laryngo-tracheal perforation caused by the use of a stylet during tracheal intubation is a rare complication. We present a case of subcutaneous emphysema and connective tissue inflammation after tracheal intubation. The patient was a 41-year-old male undergoing general anesthesia for an appendectomy. The intubation was difficult during laryngoscopy (Cormack-Lehane Grade III). An assistant provided an endotracheal tube with a stylet inside while the laryngoscope was in place. During intubation, a short, dull sound was heard with a sudden loss of resistance after the distal tip of the endotracheal tube passed the rima glottis. A sonogram and computerized tomography revealed subcutaneous emphysema from the neck to the upper mediastinum and fluid collection between the trachea and the thyroid. This lesion appeared to have been caused by the protruded, loose stylet. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the damage a loose stylet protruding beyond the tip of the endotracheal tube can cause.

Original Article

The Clinical Effectiveness of the Bonfils Intubation Fibrescope in Difficult Tracheal Intubation.: Deok Hee Lee, Il Chi Kwon; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2007;24(2):154-161. Published online December 31, 2007; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2007.24.2.154

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bonfils intubation fibrescope for cases of difficult tracheal intubation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For patients with an ASA physical status 1 or 2 betwen the ages of 20-90, direct laryngoscopy was performed and the layngoscopic view graded according to the Cormack and Lehane classification. Forty patients with Cormack and Lehane grade 3 or 4 were intubated using the Bonfils intubation fibrescope. During intubation, the success rates for tracheal intubation, overall time to intubation, number of attempts and adverse effects were recorded. The Thyromental and sternomental distances were recorded after the orotracheal intubation. RESULTS: The success rates were significantly higher in Cormack and Lehane grade 3 (96.9%) patients compared to grade 4 (50%) (P<0.01). The time to intubation was significantly faster in patients with grade 3 compared to grade 4 (20 (10-49[7-300]) sec vs. 180 (31-300[10-300]) sec, P=0.01). The number of cases with a SpO2<90% was significantly lower in patients with grade 3 (3.1%) compared to grade 4 (50%) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients with Cormack and Lehane grade 3, tracheal intubation using the Bonfils intubation fibrescope appears to be an effective technique for the management of a difficult intubation. However, the Bonfils intubation fibrescope can not always be used for the management of a difficult intubation in grade 4 patients; for these patients other effective instruments should be considered for difficult intubations.

Case Reports

Management of Unilateral Airway Obstruction During Nasotracheal Intubation: Il Sook Seo; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2007;24(2 Suppl):S702-709. Published online December 31, 2007; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2007.24.2S.S702

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Abstract PDF: Nasotracheal intubation is commonly used in patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery. The tracheal tube is passed through the nasal cavity after induction of anesthesia, followed by direct laryngoscopy to insert the tube into the trachea under direct vision by using Magill forceps. Various complications resulting from nasal passage of the tube, such as epistaxis, turbinectomy or retropharyngeal dissection, have been reported. The most common complication of nasotracheal intubation is epistaxis and several recommendations have been made to reduce its incidence. In spite of efforts such as local application of vasoconstrictive drugs, thermosoftening of the tube, and use of a nasopharyngeal airway as a pathfinder, epistaxis cannot be prevented entirely. This case report describes an 18-year-old female patient with difficult nasal intubation due to narrow nasal passageway. The patient was admitted for mandible angle splitting ostectomy and angle resection for cosmetic purpose. Epistaxis had occurred due to repeated nasotracheal intubation attempts, and blood had been aspirated. After intubation, the patient was desaturated (SpO₂<92%) with asymmetric inflation of the chest wall during controlled ventilation. We took frequent suction and tube lavage with saline, thereafter changed patient’s position to right lateral decubitus, and chest percussion was done with a face mask and the palm of the hand. About 20 minutes after aspiration, the SpO₂ was restored to 98%, and the operation proceeded, which finished uneventfully. On the next day, the chest x-ray revealed segmental atelectatic change in the right lung field, and nasal packing was done because of recurrent epistaxis. The patient was discharged on the 4th postoperative day without complications.

Aspiration Pneumonia after General Anesthesia Using Laryngeal Mask Airway: A case report.: Deok Hee Lee, Ki Ho Park; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2004;21(1):127-131. Published online June 30, 2004; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2004.21.1.127

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Abstract PDF: A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has many advantages in the management of airway emergencies or the treatment of patients in whom intubation is difficult, but the use of LMA during positive ventilation may seem inappropriate to protect the airway because of the risk of pulmonary aspiration of regurgitated gastric contents. We experienced aspiration pneumonia after general anesthesia using LMA in patient who suffered from panperitonitis. It is considered that the main reason for aspiration pneumonia was a leakage of gastric content through the space surrounding the nasogastric tube while under high airway inflation pressure. We concluded that when LMA or the Proseal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) is chosen for the use in difficult intubations, careful patient-suitability selection and the correct knowledge of LMA and PLMA are needed to protect the airway against aspiration.

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