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Endotracheal Tube Kinking in the Prone Position during Pediatric Neurosurgery: A Case Report
Laura E Gilbertson1,2, Michael Morgan3, Humphrey V Lam1,2
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Insights
Pediatric patients in the prone position may experience endotracheal tube kinking, a rare but serious complication. Anesthesiologists should consider reinforced tubes or nasotracheal intubation to prevent this during neck flexion.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Prone positioning in pediatric anesthesia presents challenges including injury prevention, airway security, and access.
- Endotracheal tube kinking is a rarely discussed but significant risk during prone procedures in children.
Observation:
- A case report details anesthetic management for a pediatric patient undergoing posterior fossa mass resection in the prone position.
- The patient experienced endotracheal tube kinking during the procedure.
Findings:
- Endotracheal tube kinking is a potential risk in pediatric patients undergoing surgery in the prone position with significant neck flexion.
- Awareness and preventative strategies are crucial for pediatric anesthesiologists.
Implications:
- Reinforced endotracheal tubes or nasotracheal intubation are recommended to mitigate the risk of intraoperative tube kinking.
- This highlights the need for vigilance regarding airway complications in prone pediatric anesthesia.
Background:
The prone position presents several concerns for the pediatric anesthesiologist, such as prevention of pressure related injuries, avoidance of undetected line infiltration, proper airway securement to inhibit unanticipated extubation, and limited access to the patient in critical events. However, the possibility of endotracheal tube kinking in pediatric patients is rarely discussed in the multitude of concerns about prone procedures. Here, we present a case report detailing the anesthetic management of a patient that experienced endotracheal tube kinking in the prone position during a posterior fossa mass resection. Our conclusion is that pediatric anesthesiologists must be cognizant of the possibility of endotracheal tube kinking in patients who are undergoing procedures in the prone position with significant neck flexion. We recommend using either an appropriately sized reinforced endotracheal tube or a nasotracheal intubation to decrease the potential of intraoperative tube kinking.
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