Anesth Analg 2003;97:911-914
© 2003 International Anesthesia Research Society
GENERAL ARTICLES
Esophageal Tear: An Unusual Complication After Difficult Endotracheal Intubation
Ibtesam A. Hilmi, MB CHB, FRCA,
Erin Sullivan, MD,
Joseph Quinlan, MD, and
Saraswathy Shekar, MD
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ibtesam A. Hilmi, MB CHB, FRCA, Assistant professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Presbyterian Hospital, 200 Lothrop St., C-Wing, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582. Address e-mail to hilmiia{at}anes.upmc.edu
Esophageal perforation is a serious life threatening injury that may occur during inadvertent esophageal intubation. We report two cases of iatrogenic esophageal perforation after attempted endotracheal intubation. Our experience confirms that early diagnosis (as in the first case) is associated with a more favorable outcome. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of this complication because the symptoms are often nonspecific and may be delayed.
IMPLICATIONS: We describe two case reports of esophageal injury after difficult endotracheal intubation. Whenever there is a traumatic intubation with inadvertent esophageal intubation, the possibility of esophageal injury should be considered.
|
