title: Inadvertent intubation of the left mainstem bronchus.
abstract: This is a case report of a previously healthy 61-year-old white male who was emergently intubated in the field by paramedical personnel and transported to the emergency department. Physical examination revealed minimal-to-absent breath sounds over the right hemithorax associated with cyanosis of the head, face, and upper extremities. Emergency needle decompression of the right lung was accomplished without improvement. A postmortem chest radiograph revealed a left mainstem bronchus intubation. Use of the physical examination, the endotracheal tube depth, and an awareness of the possible--but rare-complication of left mainstem bronchus intubation may lead to accurate diagnosis and treatment and avoid unnecessary procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Martin Army Hospital, Fort Benning, GA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications; D001980:Bronchi; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*