Inadvertent intracranial placement of a Foley catheter. A rare iatrogenic complication of severe frontomaxillary trauma.
Severe comminuted fractures of the facial bones involving the cranial base are often accompanied by heavy bleeding into the nasopharynx. This presents considerable problems in primary care both for the anesthesiologist and the surgeon. Such bleeding can be controlled by Bellocq tamponade or using a Foley inflatable catheter. Skull base fractures may involve the risk of the catheter inadvertently penetrating into the brain. The authors describe a case in which a misguided Foley catheter, which was blindly inserted through the nose in an attempt to tampon the nasopharynx, resulted in fatal cerebral damage.
Engel
M
M
Department for maxillo-facial surgery, University Homburg/Saar.
Reif
J
J
Moncrief
E
E
D000328:Adult; D021721:Balloon Occlusion; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000293:injuries; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000473:pathology*; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000473:pathology*