[Airway fire, a serious complication during laryngeal laser surgery].
During laryngeal laser surgery a 74-year-old male experienced endotracheal tube cuff ignition. This caused severe damage to the trachea. Eventually the patient died after 26 days on the intensive care unit due to a underlying cause. Microlaryngeal and tracheobronchial surgery require a good level of cooperation between the anaesthesiologist and the ENT surgeon, especially when a laser is used. To reduce the risk of an airway fire occurring, a number of precautions can (and must) be taken. Completing a checklist before the laser is used can prove helpful in this respect.
Hermsen
H W E M
HW
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen.
Snijdelaar
D G
DG
Marres
H A M
HA
D000368:Aged; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*