Open AccessTraumatic rupture of a nasoethmoidal meningoencephalocele in an adult following a difficult airway scenario
Author(s) -
Langley Adrian,
Lai Nai An,
Flynn Christopher
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
anaesthesia cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2396-8397
DOI - 10.21466/ac.troanmi.2014
Subject(s) - medicine , intubation , meninges , rhinorrhea , surgery , airway management , airway , complication , skull , fistula , meningitis , anesthesia , nasal administration , pathology , immunology
Summary Intranasal meningoencephaloceles are characterised by protrusion of brain and meninges through a skull‐base defect. Nasal intubation or instrumentation may lead to complications such as meningoencephalitis and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea or fistula formation. A 62 year old lady developed rhinorrhea following failed videolaryngoscopic and nasal fibreoptic intubation, which ultimately necessitated emergency surgical tracheostomy for a “can't intubation can't ventilate” scenario. This case highlights the diagnosis and management of an unusual complication resulting from difficult airway management.