title: [Pulmonary barotrauma during anesthesia].
abstract: There were three cases of pulmonary barotrauma during anesthesia. The causes of barotrauma were: 1) Undue length of the tube pressed by machine's wheel which connect the ventilator to the anesthesia machine. 2) Inadvertent connection of the breathing tube to the inspiratory side of the machine when using the Bain system. 3) Inadvertent placement of expiratory valve. All resulted in obstruction to air outflow. The condition further aggravated by repeated flushing of the oxygen flush valve, leading to rapid increase in intraluminal pressure and rupture of alveolar. The condition can be rapidly recognized by palpation of the neck, auscultation of breathing sound, and finally, with a portable chest X-ray. When any problem exists in the breathing system of anesthesia machines, disconnecting the patient from the machine is mandatory. The patient can be ventilated with an Ambu bag while checking the system thus lessening the incidence of barotrauma.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury; D008297:Male