2006, Number 3
Foreign body in upper respiratory in an adult patient under general anesthesia
Puón-Gómez AMG, Gómez-Márquez JJ, Vilchis-Rentería S
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 4
Page: 174-176
PDF size: 94.44 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The presence of foreign bodies in the airways during the induction of general anesthesia has been reported before. This paper reports the accidental remaining in the airway of a fragment of a malleable stylet used as guide for orotracheal intubation. Case report: A 56-year-old male was scheduled to undergo elective suprapubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer under general anesthesia. Preanesthetic assessment revealed the following scores: Mallampati II, Patil Aldreti I, and Bellhouse-Dore I. Laryngoscopic visualization was Cormack-Lehane III. An endotracheal tube was placed after the second attempt with a malleable aluminum stylet. After checking the proper position of the tube, the stylet was found to be broken. This was confirmed through plain X-rays and with the use of a flexible fibroscope, with which the foreign body was removed. At the end of surgery, the patient was extubated uneventfully. Comment: It is advisable to comply with the specifications for the use of endotracheal tube stylets and other intubation materials, in order to avoid complications that could increase the morbidity of anesthetic procedures.REFERENCES