A Case of Endotracheal Tube Injury during Maxillofacial Surgery: Case report / 대한마취과학회지

An endotracheal tube provides patent airway during general anesthesia. We experienced the cutting of an endotracheal tube during surgical procedure. The patient with bimaxillary protrusion was operated for cosmetic bimaxillary surgery. The patient was intubated via nasotracheal route with a reinforced endotracheal tube. During surgical procedure, we found air bubbles from the nostril in which the entotracheal tube was inserted. Several milliliters of air was infused into the pilot balloon to inflate the cuff, but air bubbles was noticed continuously. We exchanged the endotracheal tube using a tube exchanger. The removed endotracheal tube was partially cut at 22cm from the tip, probably due to the air-driven saw.