title: Extubation of the patient after a difficult intubation.
abstract: A case of a difficult intubation in a heavy smoker requiring reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting is presented. A technique is described to extubate patients with marginal pulmonary function and a difficult intubation using airway exchange catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lazar
mesh_terms: D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism; D013396:Suction