Emergency intubation using a light wand in patients with facial trauma

• Main Authors: Sahu Sandeep, Agarwal Apurva, Rana Avaneet, Lata Indu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Series: Journal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock
• Subjects: Difficult airway management; faciomaxillary injuries; light wand
• Online Access: http://www.onlinejets.org/article.asp?issn=0974-2700;year=2009;volume=2;issue=1;spage=51;epage=53;aulast=Sahu

Airway management in the operating room is the responsibility of anesthesiologists, although a variety of personnel may be responsible for airway management outside the operating room. Emergency department physicians are prominently involved in airway management in the emergency room both independently and with anesthesiologists. Airway management in trauma patients remains the domain of anesthesiologists. An 18-year old male patient was brought to our emergency room after an alleged history of suicidal attempt with gunshot under the chin. He was scheduled to undergo emergency tracheotomy, debridement, and closure of facial laceration under general anaesthesia, presenting a challenge for. He had to undergo emergency tracheotomy, debridement, and closure of facial lacerations under general anesthesia. The injuries made the patient′s airway management a complex issue. We present the use of the light wand to manage the difficult airway of this patient with complex facial trauma.