The Dissection of Reinforced Endotracheal Tube Internal Wall causing Intraoperative Airway Obstruction under General Anesthesia. Case Report.


Mercanoglu E., Topuz D., Kaya N.

REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ANESTESIOLOGIA, vol.63, no.4, pp.373-375, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation is performed to establish a secure airway. However, this carries its risks and obstruction of an endotracheal tube (ETT) is a potentially life-threatening event. We report two cases with an obstruction of the resterilized, single use, spiral, reinforced endotracheal tubes by dissection of the internal wall. As a conclusion, we suggest not reusing and resterilizing single tubes in these cases to avoid a complication like dissection of the internal wall of the tube, as this has been the main cause. (C) 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.