Back to Search
Start Over
Oral Intubation Attempts in Patients With a Laryngectomy: A Significant Safety Threat
- Source :
- Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 164(5)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- It is impossible to secure the airway of a patient with "neck-only" breathing transorally or transnasally. Surgical removal of the larynx (laryngectomy) or tracheal rerouting (tracheoesophageal diversion or laryngotracheal separation) creates anatomic discontinuity. Misguided attempts at oral intubation of neck breathers may cause hypoxic brain injury or death. We present national data from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Head and Neck Society, and the United Kingdom's National Reporting and Learning Service. Over half of US otolaryngologist respondents reported instances of attempted oral intubations among patients with laryngectomy, with a mortality rate of 26%. UK audits similarly revealed numerous resuscitation efforts where misunderstanding of neck breather status led to harm or death. Such data underscore the critical importance of staff education, patient engagement, effective signage, and systems-based best practices to reliably clarify neck breather status and provide necessary resources for safe patient airway management.
- Subjects :
- Larynx
medicine.medical_specialty
medicine.medical_treatment
Laryngectomy
03 medical and health sciences
Patient safety
Otolaryngology
0302 clinical medicine
Tracheotomy
medicine
Intubation, Intratracheal
Intubation
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Airway Management
030223 otorhinolaryngology
Mouth
business.industry
General surgery
medicine.anatomical_structure
Otorhinolaryngology
Health Care Surveys
Surgery
Airway management
Patient Safety
Airway
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10976817
- Volume :
- 164
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4c8f36285c13266e7652eafb44bb2e64