Anaesthetic management of acute laryngeal trauma.
Three patients suffering acute laryngeal trauma illustrate problems of missed diagnosis and airway management confronting anaesthetists. A 55-year-old man suffered multiple injuries, including a supraglottic laryngeal fracture which was not diagnosed during administration of a subsequent general anaesthetic. The diagnostic delay compromised any reconstructive surgery. Two 26-year-old males suffered laryngeal fractures, but tracheal intubation for reconstruction and tracheostomy was successful. Guidelines for management are suggested.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007817:Laryngeal Cartilages / Q000293:injuries; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014140:Tracheotomy