Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Dec;59(Suppl):S17-S20. 10.4097/kjae.2010.59.S.S17.

Damage to the cuff of EMG tube at endotracheal intubation by using a lightwand: A case report

• Kim HS
• Park KS
• Kang MH
• Park CD

• KMID: 2237343
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.59.S.S17

Abstract

Electromyogpraphic endotracheal tube (EMG tube) is a new device used to monitor recurrent laryngeal nerve integrity during thyroid surgery. The EMG tube has 2 pairs of electrodes on the surface of silicon-based tube reached to inner space of tube cuff. We experienced an unusual endotracheal tube-related problem from the distinct structural feature of the EMG tube. In this case, we intubated a patient who had difficult airway with the EMG tube using a lightwand. After successful endotracheal intubation, we could not expand the pilot balloon and ventilate the patient effectively. We removed the EMG tube and found that one of electrodes of the EMG tube is bended and made a right angle with the long axis of the tube, and perforated the tube cuff. So we report this case to make anesthesia providers aware that much more attention is needed to use EMG tube during endotracheal intubation.

Keyword

Complication; Electromyographic endotracheal tube; Intubation; Lightwand; Recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring; Thyroid surgery

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Electrodes
Humans
Intubation
Intubation, Intratracheal
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Thyroid Gland
Organothiophosphorus Compounds