Retropharyngeal Laceration during Nasotracheal Intubation: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

Nasotracheal intubation is a useful airway management technique for head, neck, and dental surgery. However, the risks associated with this technique include the possibility of damaging the nasal mucosa and related structures including the epistaxis, pharyngolaryngeal mucosal injury, bleeding, avulsion of the turbinate, nasal polyps, sinusitis, and bacteremia. Some of these symptoms occasionally result in fatal complications. A 26-year-old male, was scheduled to undergo surgery for malocclusion type 3 under general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation. During the nasotracheal intubation, the tip of nasotracheal tube entered into the retropharyngeal space through the nasopharyngeal wall instead of oropharyngeal space, however no blood aspiration and retropharyngeal swelling occured. After surgery, the patient was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and conservative management, and was completely cured without further complications.