title: Sodium azide-associated laryngospasm after air bag deployment.
abstract: The advent and incorporation of the air bag into motor vehicles has resulted in the mitigation of many head and truncal injuries in motor vehicle collisions. However, air bag deployment is not risk free. We present a case of sodium azide-induced laryngospasm after air bag deployment. An unrestrained male driver was in a moderate-speed motor vehicle collision with air bag deployment. Medics found him awake, gasping for air with stridorous respirations and guarding his neck. The patient had no external signs of trauma and was presumed to have tracheal injury. The patient was greeted by the Anesthesiology service, which intubated him using glidescope-assisted laryngoscopy. The patient was admitted for overnight observation and treatment of alkaline ocular injury and laryngospasm. Although air bags represent an important advance in automobile safety, their use is not without risk. Bruising and tracheal rupture secondary to air bag deployment have been reported in out-of-position occupants. Additionally, alkaline by-products from the combustion of sodium azide in air bags have been implicated in ocular injury and facial burns. Laryngospasm after sodium azide exposure presents another diagnostic challenge for providers. Therefore, it is incumbent to maintain vigilance in the physical examination and diagnosis of occult injuries after air bag deployment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Keir J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Copass
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bulger
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D017278:Air Bags; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007826:Laryngismus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D019810:Sodium Azide / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019810:Sodium Azide