Life-Threatening Complication of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring With EMG Reinforced Silicone ETT

Oysu Ç., Demir K.

JOURNAL OF CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY, vol.22, no.6, pp.2419-2421, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 22 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.1097/scs.0b013e318232a734
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2419-2421
  • Keywords: Complication, recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring, endotracheal tube
  • Marmara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

We present 2 cases with complication of herniation of a specially designed endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff used for laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroid surgery. Abrupt and total blockage of ventilation has occurred at 35th and 40th minutes of general anesthesia. In an animal trachea, we showed that overinflated cuff may herniate and block ETT tip easily. A 25-mm upward movement of the ETT is found as a contributing factor to cuff herniation.