J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2012 Oct;38(5):310-313. 10.5125/jkaoms.2012.38.5.310.

Life-threatening airway obstruction after flapless implant placement in the anterior mandible

• Kim JH
• Park HK
• Kim MK
• Kang SH

• KMID: 1434334
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2012.38.5.310

Abstract

This paper reports a patient who had an airway obstruction caused by a hemorrhage of the mouth floor that occurred after she underwent flapless implantation in the region of the mandibular anterior teeth. The hemorrhage may have been caused by iatrogenic malpositioned fixture and patient's hypertension. The lingual periosteum was not dissected during the flapless procedure. Therefore, when hemorrhage occurred, the blood did not drain easily into the oral cavity but instead drained into the deep neck region, which might have been the cause of the airway obstruction.

Keyword

Airway obstruction; Dental implants

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction
Dental Implants
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypertension
Mandible
Mouth
Mouth Floor
Neck
Periosteum
Tooth
Dental Implants

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Neck lateral plain radiography showing tongue swelling and airway obstruction.

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  Fig. 2 Computed tomography axial view showing tongue swelling and airway obstruction.

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  Fig. 3 Three-dimensionally reconstructed computed tomography image showing airway obstruction.

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  Fig. 4 Malpositioned implant fixture penetrating the lingual bony cortex.

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