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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Postoperative Upper Airway Blood Clot After Tonsillectomy Requiring a Suction Catheter Without Side Holes for
Sandra Ellefsen1,2, Michael Seltz Kristensen3
1From the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
Abstract:
We present a case of acute dyspnea due to postoperative oral bleeding after tonsillectomy, wherein a blood clot obscured the laryngeal structures to such an extent that no recognizable structures could be identified. A larger-bore suction catheter without side holes proved necessary to solve the problem. The case illustrates how a gradually forming blood clot can remain asymptomatic until reaching a size where it poses an airway threat and highlights the necessity for readily available larger-bore suction devices without side holes. We consider this as an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of blood clot formation and its management.
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