Gastric rupture after awake fibreoptic intubation in a patient with laryngeal carcinoma.

Ho, C-M; Yin, I-W; Tsou, K-F; Chow, L-H; Tsai, S-K · Br J Anaesth · 2005

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

An 86-yr-old man with recurrent laryngeal carcinoma developed gastric rupture after awake fibreoptic intubation before induction of general anaesthesia. Early clinical signs included a distended, tense and tympanic abdomen with pain and massive pneumoperitoneum (chest radiograph). Laparotomy revealed a 4-cm longitudinal perforation along the lesser curvature of the stomach. This case represents a rare but severe complication that may occur during fibreoptic intubation in the awake patient.

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