Tracheal Extubation of Patients With Cervical Spine Injury: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
In patients with cervical spine injuries, emergence from anesthesia and tracheal extubation can prove as challenging to the anesthesiologist as the tracheal intubation. We report a case of a patient with a potentially unstable cervical spine injury who presented for a nonspinal surgery and experienced agitation on emergence from anesthesia. The use of an intravenous sedative was necessary to ensure cervical spine immobilization but was complicated by severe respiratory depression and the need for reintubation and admission to intensive care. The case report is followed by a review of literature relating to safe extubation of patients with cervical spine injuries. Possible complications during emergence and various methods to prevent these complications are discussed.
From the Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, United Kingdom.
Aleksandra
A
Nowicka
Narcis
N
Ungureanu
Shyam
S
Balasubramanian
Cyprian
C
Mendonca
D000328:Adult; D060666:Airway Extubation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome