title: Mechanical airway obstruction due to dislodged spinal hardware.
abstract: A difficult airway caused by mechanical obstruction from dislodged spinal hardware in a patient undergoing revision surgery for a cervical chordoma is presented. Due to the logical, sequential multidisciplinary airway and patient management by the anesthesiology, neurosurgery, and otolaryngology teams working together in an environment of clear communication, a potential life-threatening crisis was averted with successful outcome for the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kretzer
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Lauren C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Berkow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002817:Chordoma / Q000601:surgery*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome