title: Emergency airway clot removal in acute hemorrhagic respiratory failure.
abstract: Three cases of respiratory failure and severe hypoxemia caused by blood clot obscuring the central airway are described. A technique to clear the airway using a no. 6 Fogarty balloon-tip embolectomy catheter inserted through a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope was used in all three cases. Marked improvement and stabilization occurred while definitive therapy was undertaken.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*