title: Thermal injury to the tongue from an operative laryngoscope.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand risk and possible mechanisms of thermal injury to the tongue during suspension laryngoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tongue injury was noted following suspension laryngoscopy in a cluster of cases; the findings raised suspicion for thermal injury. To characterize the potential for thermal injury, a lighted laryngoscope was placed in contact with samples of tongue. Tissue heating was recorded over time at fixed distances from the light carrier within a laryngoscope. Comparisons were made between two light sources and carriers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximal tissue heating using a newer-model light source and new carrier was 16.7 degrees F immediately beneath the light carrier tip and 19.8 degrees F at 1 cm distal to the carrier tip. Other combinations of an older source and carriers failed to raise temperatures. Heating up to 10.7 degrees F occurred with the new source and an older carrier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue heating may occur from contact with operative laryngoscopes. This is an important patient safety issue in laryngology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Laryngology and Professional Voice, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226-3522, USA.
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: McMullin
authors.forename: Joel H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Blumin
authors.forename: Albert L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Merati
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D020704:Laryngoscopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries*