Management of an intraoperatively damaged endotracheal tube in a case of difficult airway using fibre-optic bronchoscope with minimal apnoea period

Abstract

Damage to the endotracheal tube (ETT) is common in head and neck surgeries, especially in maxillary osteotomy. Airway management in such a crisis is crucial as there is risk of aspiration of blood into lungs, hypoxia and apnoea. This case illustrates a patient with an anticipated difficult airway who had an intraoperative damage to the ETT and was successfully managed by re-intubation with fiberoptic bronchoscope in a minimal apnoea period of <15 s using a new technique.

Keywords

• Apnoea
• difficult airway
• endotracheal tube damage
• fibre-optic intubation
• intraoperative re-intubation
• maxillary osteotomy