This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Arndt, G. A. Articles by Tomasson, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Arndt, G. A. Articles by Tomasson, J. Related Collections Airway Complications Patient Safety

---

PATIENT SAFETY

Intubation Bougie Dissection of Tracheal Mucosa and Intratracheal Airway Obstruction

From the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to George A. Arndt, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, B6/319 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792-3272. Address e-mail to gaarndt{at}facstaff.wisc.edu.

Abstract

Intubation bougies are commonly used to aid in intubation when an optimal view of the larynx is not obtained. We describe a case of tracheal perforation using a disposable intubation bougie resulting in a complete intratracheal airway obstruction relieved by cricothyrotomy. Disposable intubation bougies may have mechanical properties that differ from their nondisposable counterparts making complications more likely.