Intracranial placement of a nasotracheal tube after transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery

Abstract

Intracranial misplacement of a tracheal tube during attempted nasotracheal intubation is a rare, usually lethal complication. Such incidents are associated with fractures of the face and base of the skull. We report inadvertent intracranial placement of a nasotracheal tube in a patient who had 2 weeks previously undergone transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery for a pituitary tumour. One should be aware that transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery leaves a bony defect in the skull, which is susceptible to perforation by nasally introduced tubes.