Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T05:14:15.709Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A potential danger of flexible endoscopy sheaths: a detached tip and how to retrieve it

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2008

Z Awad  and
D D Pothier
Z Awad*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
D D Pothier
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Zaid Awad, Specialist Registrar, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London EC1A 7BE, UK. Fax:  +44 (0)2076017172 E-mail: mail@zaidawad.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To report an unrecognised complication of fibre-optic nasendoscopy, and its management.

Case report:

A protective, transparent nasendoscopy sheath is often used to reduce nasendoscope ‘downtime’ and to prevent cross infection, with minimal effect on the obtained image quality. We report the case of a subcutaneous tracheostomy procedure during which, without undue strain, the tip of the sheath became detached and acted as a foreign body within the trachea. A urological stone retrieval basket was used to retrieve the sheath, after failure of conventional methods.

Discussion:

Clinicians should be aware that any instrument introduced into the airway has the potential to fail and in the process produce a foreign body which may cause serious complications. The urological stone retrieval basket may be a useful addition to the current set of instruments used to deal with difficult airway foreign bodies.

Keywords

TracheostomyForeign BodiesEndoscopes
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 2 , February 2009 , pp. 243 - 244
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Koitschev, A, Paasch, S, Plinkert, PK. Ciaglia percutaneous dilatation tracheotomy with endoscopic control. Analysis of complication-fraught steps [in German]. HNO 1998;46:678–83CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2EndoSheath endoscopic system. Health Devices 2000;29:7–13Google Scholar
3Vaz, F, Ripley, L, Lim, D, Kanegaonkar, R, Harries, M. Optical quality of the nasendoscope with and without the endosheath. J Laryngol Otol 2006;120:385–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Colt, HG, Beamis, JJ, Harrell, JH, Mathur, PM. Novel flexible bronchoscope and single-use disposable-sheath endoscope system. A preliminary technology evaluation. Chest 2000;118:183–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Hare, WS. Ureteral calculi: percutaneous removal using modified basket extractors and fluoroscopy. Radiology 1986;160:189–92CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Dajani, AM. Bronchial foreign-body removed with a Dormia basket. Lancet 1971;i:1076–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar