You are seeing this message because your Web browser does not support basic Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing and what you can do to make your experience on this site better.


ABOUT ARCHIVES
Advanced Search

Welcome   | My Account | E-mail Alerts | Access Rights | Sign In


  Vol. 120 No. 9, September 1985 TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Archives
  •  Online Features
  ARTICLE
 This Article
 •Send to a friend
 • Save in My Folder
 •Save to citation manager
 •Permissions
 Citing Articles
 •Contact me when this article is cited
 Related Content
 •Similar articles in this journal

Acute upper airway obstruction in the postburn period

J. P. Waymack, E. Law, R. Park, B. G. MacMillan and J. W. Alexander

Upper airway obstruction in the severely burned patient is a well-known problem that is due to mucosal edema secondary to the effects of toxic substances and heat on the laryngeal and tracheal mucosa. Herein, we report a different cause of airway obstruction seen in the late postburn period during the induction of anesthesia for reconstructive procedures. This obstruction is due to the presence of severe burn-scar contractures of the neck that prevent successful endotracheal intubation. We have seen this occur 17 times in 13 patients. All of the patients were successfully treated by an emergency neck release, after which most of the patients could be intubated and the release then skin grafted. Surgeons operating on patients with scar contractures of the neck should be aware of this condition and its appropriate treatment.





HOME | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | TOPIC COLLECTIONS | CME | SUBMIT | SUBSCRIBE | HELP
CONDITIONS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT US | SITE MAP
 
© 1985 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.