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Prophylactic nasopharyngeal tube insertion prevents acute hypoxaemia due to upper‐airway obstruction during flexible bronchoscopy
Author(s) -
Chhajed P. N.,
Aboyoun C.,
Malouf M. A.,
Hopkins P. M.,
Plit M.,
Grunstein R. R.,
Glanville A. R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1046/j.1445-5994.2003.00403.x
Subject(s) - medicine , airway obstruction , airway , bronchoscopy , anesthesia , lung , hypoxemia , surgery , lung transplantation
Insertion of a nasopharyngeal tube (NT) is a highly effective approach to the management of acute hypoxaemia during flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in lung transplant recipients. We noted that lung transplant recipients undergoing FB who had been treated previously with NT insertion had further episodes of oxygen desaturation (<90%), despite supplemental oxygen therapy. Prophylactic NT insertion prevented acute hypoxaemia in the majority of lung transplant recipients, with previously documented FB‐related oxygen desaturation secondary to UAO. Additional jaw support may be needed in some patients with severe upper‐airway obstruction. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 317−318)