Carbon dioxide laser induced airway fire during larynx surgery: case report. 2001

A K Chou, and P H Tan, and L C Yang, and G C Sun, and S W Hsieh
Department of Anesthesiology, Kaohsiung Military Generaly Hospital, Kaohsiung, 123, Tao-Pei Road, Niaosung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

The precision intrinsic hemostatic properties of the laser have led to its wide use in modern clinical medicine especially in microscopic airway surgery. However, the intense heat generated by the high energy density of the surgical laser can convert combustible tubes into veritable torches, cause catastrophic fires, and result in severe injury to the patient. This is of particular importance when high energy is used on the continuous mode or when the endotracheal tube is repeatedly hit by the laser at the same spot. Most reported laser-induced complications result from the laser beam inadvertently falling on the areas that are not intended to be exposed. We report a case of a trans-tracheostomy tube fire occurring during carbon dioxide (CO2) laser surgery. Aluminum-tape wrapping did not prevent this complication. It was found that the ignition of a trans-tracheostomy tube was caused by the laser striking an unprotected portion of the tube during resection of granuloma of the trachea.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007442 Intubation, Intratracheal A procedure involving placement of a tube into the trachea through the mouth or nose in order to provide a patient with oxygen and anesthesia. Intubation, Endotracheal,Endotracheal Intubation,Endotracheal Intubations,Intratracheal Intubation,Intratracheal Intubations,Intubations, Endotracheal,Intubations, Intratracheal
D008297 Male Males
D002245 Carbon Dioxide A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals. Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D006099 Granuloma A relatively small nodular inflammatory lesion containing grouped mononuclear phagocytes, caused by infectious and noninfectious agents. Granulomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014132 Trachea The cartilaginous and membranous tube descending from the larynx and branching into the right and left main bronchi. Tracheas
D014139 Tracheostomy Surgical formation of an opening into the trachea through the neck, or the opening so created. Tracheostomies
D053685 Laser Therapy The use of photothermal effects of LASERS to coagulate, incise, vaporize, resect, dissect, or resurface tissue. Laser Knife,Laser Scalpel,Surgery, Laser,Vaporization, Laser,Laser Ablation,Laser Knives,Laser Photoablation of Tissue,Laser Surgery,Laser Tissue Ablation,Nonablative Laser Treatment,Pulsed Laser Tissue Ablation,Ablation, Laser,Ablation, Laser Tissue,Knife, Laser,Knifes, Laser,Knive, Laser,Knives, Laser,Laser Knifes,Laser Knive,Laser Scalpels,Laser Surgeries,Laser Therapies,Laser Treatment, Nonablative,Laser Treatments, Nonablative,Laser Vaporization,Nonablative Laser Treatments,Scalpel, Laser,Scalpels, Laser,Surgeries, Laser,Therapies, Laser,Therapy, Laser,Tissue Ablation, Laser

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