Tracheal tube damage by Harmonic Scalpel during tonsillectomy
Hayakawa, M.; Morimoto, Y.; Kemmotsu, O.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 49(11): 1261-1262
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 11215238 Document Number: 513833
We experienced a case in which a tracheal tube was damaged by a Harmonic Scalpel during tonsillectomy. A 33-year-old man with chronic tonsillitis underwent tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. The trachea was intubated by Polar Preformed Tracheal Tube (Polar tube). About 45 minutes after the start of surgery, sudden massive air leakage in the trachea occurred. Surgery was accomplished under oral suctioning. After extubation, we found that an inflation cuff tube was cut off by the Harmonic Scalpel. The cause of damage was the position of an inflation cuff tube which had been in the dorsal side of the tracheal tube (near the surgical field) in the Polar tube. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the characteristics of the surgical equipment newly introduced.