title: Perforation of and intubation through the palatoglossal fold.
abstract: Perforation of pharyngeal soft tissues on intubation is rare. We present a case where the endotracheal tube punctured the palatoglossal fold before passing into the trachea. The patient was ventilated for eight days in intensive care before identification of the complication. It is difficult to estimate the frequency of pharyngeal perforation as it rarely occurs. There is however; an increased incidence in difficult intubations, emergency airway management, inexperienced operators and technique used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Perioperative Medicine, Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns, Australia.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Newell
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000293:injuries*