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Case Reports
. 2011 Jul;5(3):329-31.
doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.84114.

Tracheal intubation in the prone position with an intubating laryngeal mask airway following posterior spine impaled knife injury

Aloka Samantaray  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Tracheal intubation in the prone position with an intubating laryngeal mask airway following posterior spine impaled knife injury

Aloka Samantaray. Saudi J Anaesth. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

A prone position is not a standard position for anesthesia induction and associated with problems like difficult mask fit, impairment of orotracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy, and reduction of pulmonary compliance. However anesthetic management of trauma victims presenting with penetrating posterior lumbar spine injury requires airway securement and induction of anesthesia in the prone position to avoid further neurological impairment. We herein present the first reported case of an adult trauma patient presented with an impaled knife protruding out of lower back, who underwent endotracheal intubation with an intubating laryngeal mask airway under general anesthesia in the prone position. Our experience indicates that this technique would be easier and less risky compared to direct laryngoscopy or awake fiber optic intubation and might be considered in an emergency situation.

Keywords: Airway management; endotracheal intubation; intubating laryngeal mask airway; prone position.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient in the prone position, with the knife lodged in the lumbar spine
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scout film from the computed tomography scan reveals a retained knife at the 4th lumbar vertebra. The knife appears to enter the vertebral body through the pedicle
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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