title: [Upper airway obstruction and anesthesia--on warning signals illustrated by some cases reported to the Swedish Medical Responsibility Board].
abstract: Upper airway obstruction (e.g., epiglottitis, Ludwig's angina, or laryngeal tumour) can be a serious and life-threatening condition. The patient is asphyxiated, tired and prone to sudden apnoea and/or cardiovascular collapse. In using i.v. anaesthesia and muscle relaxation (e.g., by means of succinylcholine), the anaesthetist is taking a chance, and relying on being able to intubate the patient. Such an approach may lead to the patient's death, however, should the anaesthetist be unable to secure a free airway for artificial ventilation or to intubate the patient. Clinical symptoms are described as is the pathophysiology of upper airway obstruction. Preparatory intubation, while the patient is conscious, would seem to be the safest procedure to use in such cases.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Löfström
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications*; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000401:mortality*; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008158:Ludwig's Angina / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Ovre luftvägshinder och anestesi--om varningssignaler speglade i ansvarsärendefall.