1/164. Complete upper airway obstruction during awake fibreoptic intubation in patients with unstable cervical spine fractures.PURPOSE: To describe the presentation and management of complete upper airway obstruction with life threatening arterial oxygen desaturation that occurred during attempted awake fibreoptic intubation in two patients presenting with unstable C-spine injury. CLINICAL FEATURE: Complete upper airway obstruction occurred during awake fibreoptic intubation of two men (ASA II; 68 & 55 yr old) presenting with unstable C-spine fractures. In both cases, bag and mask ventilation with CPAP failed to relieve the progressive hypoxemia. A surgical airway was established urgently to oxygenate the two patients who were suffering progressive life-threatening oxygen desaturation. One patient had trans-cricothyroid jet ventilation performed through a 16G intravenous cannula prior to an urgent tracheostomy. In the other patient, an emergency tracheostomy was inserted. Interestingly, both patients had been sedated in the Neurosurgical intensive care Unit with morphine and benzodiazepines before their scheduled surgeries. The most likely etiology for the complete upper airway obstruction was laryngospasm due to inadequate topicalization of the airway and additional sedation given in the operating room. Neither patients suffered any new neurological deficits following these events. They went on to have uneventful surgeries. CONCLUSION: This case report suggest that prior to awake fibreoptic intubation, oxygenation, adequate topicalization with testing to verify the lack of pharyngeal and laryngeal responses and careful assessment of sedation levels in the operating room are prudent for a safe endoscopic intubation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/164. Spontaneous cervical hematoma: a report of two cases.Cervical hematomas are generally associated with trauma, surgery, and tumors. Although they are rare, they can be life-threatening because they put the patient at risk for great-vessel compression and upper airway obstruction. We describe two cases of spontaneous cervical hematoma--one in an 81-year-old man and the other in a 30-year-old woman. The man reported dysphonia, dysphagia, and neck swelling of 5 hours' duration. He had been taking 100 mg/day of aspirin for a cardiovascular condition. Examination revealed that the man had polycythemia vera. The woman was found to have neck ache, odynophagia, and cervical ecchymosis; portal hypertension, schistosomiasis, and blood dyscrasia were also found. Both patients denied trauma. A suspected diagnosis of cervical hematoma was confirmed by computed tomography, and treatment was instituted. The hematomas resolved in about 2 weeks. The treatment of cervical hematoma is controversial, although it is agreed that the evaluation of upper airway obstruction and its permeability is mandatory. Surgical treatment is generally reserved for complicated cases because of the risk of infection or bleeding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.7948454082553keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/164. plasmacytoma and upper airway obstruction.Extramedullary plasmacytomas are hematologic malignancies that occur primarily in the head and neck region. They usually involve the submucosal lymphoid tissue of the nasopharynx or paranasal sinuses and present as soft tissue masses, but have not been previously reported to cause airway obstruction. In general, detection of plasmacytoma antedates the eventual development of the systemic hematologic malignancy, multiple myeloma, by months or years. We describe a unique case of acute upper respiratory tract obstruction secondary to compression by an extramedullary plasmacytoma occurring in the neck of a patient with history of long-standing multiple myeloma. Upper airway obstruction may be a manifestation of untreated plasmacytoma. It is imperative for otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons to be familiar with this entity because total excision, as well as radiation therapy, for plasmacytomas can be curative in patients without underlying overt plasma cell dyscrasias.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.7948454082553keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/164. Traumatic fracture of the hyoid bone: three case presentations of cardiorespiratory compromise secondary to missed diagnosis.hyoid bone fractures secondary to blunt trauma other than strangulation are rare (ML Bagnoli et al., J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1988; 46: 326-8), accounting for only 0.002 per cent of all fractures. The world literature reports only 21 cases. Surgical intervention involves airway management, treatment of associated pharyngeal perforations, and management of painful symptomatology. The importance of hyoid fracture, however, rests not with the rarity of it, but with the lethal potential of missed diagnosis. We submit three cases with varying presentations and management strategies. All three of our cases incurred injury by blunt trauma to the anterior neck. Two patients required emergent surgical airway after unsuccessful attempts at endotracheal intubation. One patient presented without respiratory distress and was managed conservatively. After fracture, the occult compressive forces of hematoma formation and soft tissue swelling may compromise airway patency. It is our clinical observation that hypoxia develops rapidly and without warning, leading to cardiorespiratory collapse. With endotracheal intubation prohibited by obstruction, a surgical airway must be established and maintained. Recognition of subtle clinical and physical findings are critical to the diagnosis of laryngotracheal complex injuries and may be life-saving in many instances. To ensure a positive outcome, a strong degree of suspicion based on mechanism of injury is mandated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/164. The management of ludwig's angina.A severe case of ludwig's angina which was treated along the historical lines of surgical decompression is presented. The problem resulting from this approach are discussed together with alternative methods of management. The conclusion is made that surgical decompression as a means of avoiding respiratory obstruction should be abandoned and that tracheotomy should be used.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.5896908165107keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/164. Upper airway compression after arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint.An unusual complication is presented following a temporomandibular arthroscopy carried out under general anaesthesia. Severe cervicofacial oedema occurred immediately after surgery which required prolonged endotracheal intubation. Retrospective analysis revealed a massive fluid escape in the surrounding tissues leading to laryngeal oedema.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 11.179381633021keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/164. Massive postoperative swelling of the tongue: manual decompression and tactile intubation as a life-saving measure.Massive swelling of the tongue due to haemorrhage is a rare but potentially fatal complication secondary to trauma, surgery, tumour invasion or uncontrolled anticoagulant therapy. This article presents a report of bleeding from the left lingual artery secondary to elective excision of a lipoma of the floor of the mouth and subsequent life-threatening upper airway obstruction. In this case, the upper airway obstruction was managed by manual decompression of the tongue and tactile nasal intubation. To our knowledge this case provides the first description of using this method in life-threatening upper airway obstruction caused by massive haemorrhagic swelling of the tongue.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 13.974227041277keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/164. Fatal airway compromise due to retropharyngeal hematoma after airbag deployment.In trauma patients it is possible for a hematoma to form in the potential space between the pharynx and cervical spine (the retropharyngeal space). Fewer than 30 cases of actual airway obstruction secondary to retropharyngeal hematomas have been reported. We present an unusual case of an elderly woman who was involved in a minor motor vehicle collision which deployed her airbag. She died as a result of anoxic injury to the brain. autopsy results demonstrated transverse fractures through the bodies of C5 and C7 with associated significant retropharyngeal and mediastinal hematoma. Airbags have been shown to significantly decrease the mortality rate in frontal collisions; however, the potential for hyperextension injuries from airbag deployment exists, especially if the occupant is unrestrained, small, or sitting too close to the airbag. When this woman's airbag deployed, it most likely caused her vertebral fractures, hematoma, subsequent airway compromise, and anoxic brain injury. Whatever the mechanism of trauma, one must be cognizant of the potential risk for retropharyngeal hematoma and airway compromise when a patient presents with injury to the cervical spine.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/164. Rapidly developing airway obstruction resulting from achalasia of the oesophagus.Megaoesophagus resulting from achalasia is a rare but serious cause of airway obstruction. The exact aetiology remains unclear. Although 29 cases have previously been reported, the potential need for urgent treatment has not been sufficiently emphasized. Some forms of treatment with drugs or decompression with a fine tube have been advocated but emergency tracheal intubation may become necessary. A 90-year-old lady had a bolus of food lodged in her oesophagus but with no respiratory symptoms. The bolus was removed under anaesthesia. Six weeks later she suffered similar symptoms after eating but developed severe airway obstruction over 10 min. Emergency intubation of the trachea was necessary before removing the food bolus under general anaesthesia. This case demonstrates the urgency with which these patients may need to be treated. The condition can rapidly worsen due to swallowing of air and saliva.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.7948454082553keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/164. Achalasia presenting as acute airway obstruction.Achalasia presenting as acute airway obstruction is an uncommon complication. We report the case of an elderly woman with previously undiagnosed achalasia who presented with acute respiratory distress due to megaesophagus. Emergency endotracheal intubation and insertion of a catheter into the esophagus, with continuous aspiration was required. Upon introduction of the esophageal catheter an abruptand audible air decompression occurred, with marked improvement of the clinical picture. Endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin was chosen as the definitive treatment with good clinical result. The pathophysiology of the phenomenon of esophageal blowing in achalasia is unclear, but different hypothetical mechanisms have been suggested. One postulated mechanism is an increase in upper esophageal sphincter (UES) residual pressure or abnormal UES relaxation with swallowing in achalasia patients. We reviewed the UES manometric findings in 50 achalasia patients and compared it with measurement performed in 45 healthy controls. We did not find any abnormalities in UES function in any of our achalasia patients group, or in the case under study. An alternative hypothesis postulates that airway compromise in patients with achalasia results from the loss UES belch reflex (abnormal UES relaxation during esophageal air distension), and in fact, an abnormal UES belch reflex was evidenced in our case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.7948454082553keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |