Impacted Toothbrush in the Oropharynx: An Anesthetic Challenge

Authors

  •   Surbhi Gupta Department of Anaesthesiology, St. John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  •   Reena Nayar Department of Anaesthesiology, St. John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  •   Rashmi Rani Department of Anaesthesiology, St. John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  •   Usha R. Sastry Department of Anaesthesiology, St. John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  •   Anandajith Kartha Department of Anaesthesiology, St. John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Keywords:

Airway management, difficult intubation, oropharyngeal foreign body, trismus

Abstract

Airway management can be challenging in patients with impacted oropharyngeal foreign bodies, especially those with the shafts of the foreign bodies protruding from the mouth. Difficulties may be encountered in airway assessment, mask ventilation, laryngoscopy, and intubation. This may be compounded by the potential for airway obstruction and injury to adjacent neurovascular structures. We report the case of a 20‑year‑old lady who came to the emergency department with a toothbrush impacted in the oropharynx with its handle protruding out of the mouth. The anesthetic management followed to successfully intubate the patient and retrieve the foreign body has been discussed.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2015-07-01

How to Cite

Gupta, S., Nayar, R., Rani, R., Sastry, U. R., & Kartha, A. (2015). Impacted Toothbrush in the Oropharynx: An Anesthetic Challenge. Karnataka Anaesthesia Journal, 1(3), 134–136. Retrieved from https://karnatakaanesthesiajournal.in/index.php/kaj/article/view/139377

Issue

Volume 1, Issue 3, July- September 2015

Section

Case Reports

References

Incollingo F, Shevchenko Y. Airway management in a child with penetrating pharyngeal wall foreign body injury: A case report. AANA J 2007;75:329‑32.

Aregbesola SB, Ugboko VI. Unusual foreign bodies in the orofacial soft tissue spaces: A report of three cases. Niger J Clin Pract 2013;16:381‑5.

Catelani C, Valente A, Rossi A, Bertolai R. Broken anesthetic needle in the pterygomandibular space. Four case reports. Minerva Stomatol 2013;62:455‑63.

Altan A, Damlar I, Kiliç S, Turgay B. Unusual foreign bodies in the oral cavity: A report of three cases. Sch J Dent Sci 2015;2:126‑9.

Paterson NA. Management of an unusual pediatric difficult airway using ketamine as a sole agent. Paediatr Anaesth 2008;18:785‑8.

Sidhu MK, Shaw DW, Roberts TS. Carotid artery injury and delayed cerebral infarction after minor pharyngeal trauma. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1996;167:1056.

Persson S, Gjerdet NR, Tornes K. Metal fragment in the temporomandibular joint: A case report. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2003;32:653‑5.

Gupta B, Kaur M, Sawhney C, D’souza N. Impacted toothbrush in the oropharynx: A challenging airway. Paediatr Anaesth 2010;20:964‑6.

Kumar S, Gupta R, Arora R, Saxena S. Severe oropharyngeal trauma caused by toothbrush‑case report and review of 13 cases. Br Dent J 2008;205:443‑7.

Saricicek V, Sahin L, Mizrak A, Sen E. Endotracheal intubation of a paediatric patient with an umbrella wire embedded in the palate to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx using a GlideScope video laryngoscope. BMJ Case Rep 2014;2014.