Partial Obstruction of the Endotracheal Tube by a Part of the Metallic Stylet; Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Abdullah M Assiri,1 Abdullah Alhelali,2 Ibrahim AL-Benhassan,3 Saeed Abo Hamed,3 Assaf Alkathiri,2 Elhadi Miskeen,4 Mohammed Alqarny5 1Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 2Otolaryngology Department, Abha Children Hospital & Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 3Pediatric Critical Care Unit, Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia; 5Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammed Alqarny, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, P.O. Box 0011, Bisha, Asir, 61922, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Endotracheal intubation is common in the emergency department, intensive care units, and operating rooms. It involves the insertion of an endotracheal tube (ETT) through the mouth or nose into the trachea to maintain a patent airway and facilitate mechanical ventilation. Using a stylet during intubation can guide the ETT through the vocal cords. However, complications can arise when the stylet is not removed after successful intubation. Herewith, we reported a patient who was two years old and suffered from respiratory failure. However, in the first 12 hours, we observed a foreign body in the trachea, a small end of a metal stylet immediately removed by bronchoscope. This case demonstrates that multiple uses of a stylet, especially by a single user, can result in impaction of the stylet in the ETT during intubation, requiring force when the stylet is withdrawn after intubation, which can result in breakage, shearing, and retention of the stylet or plastic sheath in the lumen of the ETT.Keywords: stylet, foreign body, Saudi Arabia

Keywords

• stylet
• foreign body
• saudi arabia.