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Throat Packs in Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery.
Serena Martin1, Calum Blacklock2, Michael McBride1
1Plastic Surgery Registrar, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|November 15, 2021
Summary
Retained throat packs can be fatal, despite their use in surgery. Current practices lack standardization, and surgeons frequently encounter adverse incidents, necessitating a reevaluation of their routine use.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Practices
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Throat packs are utilized in various surgical and dental procedures for airway stabilization and aspiration risk reduction.
- Despite perceived benefits, retained throat packs pose a fatal risk, with no fail-safe mechanisms currently available.
- Previous incidents since the 1970s have highlighted the dangers of retained throat packs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate current practices and views on throat pack usage among cleft surgeons.
- To identify potential risks and adverse incidents associated with throat pack use in surgical procedures.
Main Methods:
- A 17-question survey was distributed to cleft surgeons at the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2017 meeting.
- Responses from 24 cleft surgeons were collected and analyzed.
- Survey data was discussed in the context of existing literature on throat pack use.
Main Results:
- 67% of surveyed surgeons reported always using a throat pack.
- 84% of surgeons did not secure the throat pack, increasing the risk of retention.
- 48% of respondents had encountered serious adverse incidents related to throat pack use.
Conclusions:
- Significant discrepancies and a lack of national standardization in throat pack usage persist.
- Adverse incidents and fatalities associated with retained throat packs continue to occur.
- Evidence suggests limited benefit for postoperative nausea and vomiting, urging reconsideration of routine throat pack use in elective procedures.
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