A 40 year old patient with vocal cord polyps is scheduled for laser resection of the polyps. She is induced with general anesthesia and intubated with a 5.0 microlaryngeal tube. The table is turned 180 degrees and the sugeon begins. Halfway through the procedure, the surgeon yells "airway fire." There is a large air leak, and the patient cannot be ventilated with positive pressure. Smoke is coming out of the mouth.
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I put together these medical challenges. The cases are hypothetical and do not necessarily represent actual or typical presentations of medical diseases. Disclaimer is at the bottom of this page.
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1 comment:
Fahrenheit 451
In an airway fire, ventilation must be stopped and the source of fire (ie. the endotracheal tube) must be removed. These actions remove the flame, retained heat, and oxygen-rich gas. Ventilation can then be maintained by mask and anesthesia by IV agents. Direct and rigid laryngoscopy can be used to assess the damage.
Source: Miller's Anesthesia, 7th ed.
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