Partial airway obstruction due to intraluminal bulging of the inner layer of a reinforced tube : A case report

Park, Sang Hi; Shin, Young Duck

Case Report

General Article

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2009;4(1):68-70.
Published online January 30, 2009.

Partial airway obstruction due to intraluminal bulging of the inner layer of a reinforced tube : A case report

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea. yydshin@cbnuh.or.kr

Abstract

Intraoperative airway obstruction is usually manifested as high peak inflation pressures and decreased exhaled tidal volume. The simultaneous occurrence of increased peak inflation pressure and unchanging plateau pressure generally indicates a mechanical obstruction of the tracheal tube. We experienced a reinforced tube obstruction after intraluminal bulging of the tube. A 59 year-old woman was scheduled for a neck mass excision and ventral hernia repair. The patient was intubated with a 7.0 mm new reinforced tube without any problems. Three hours later, signs of airway obstruction presented, and passage of a suction catheter failed. Examination with the naked eye showed a partial obstruction by intraluminal bulging of the inner layer of the tube. We report this case of partial airway obstruction with a reinforced tube.

Key Words: airway obstruction, complications, reinforced tube