title: Difficult tracheal extubation.
abstract: We describe a case of nasotracheal tube fixation with a screw. A second case is described in which a broken drill bit was found to impinge on the wall but not penetrate into the lumen of a nasotracheal tube. Possible sequelae of this complication include airway leak, aspiration, tube obstruction, and trauma from attempts at forceful extubation. We recommend the routine intraoperative testing for tracheal tube movement and routine fibreoptic bronchoscopy through the tube when blind surgical procedures occur in the vicinity of a tracheal tube.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University of Saskatchewan Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lanigan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*