Tracheal Injury from Bougie

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A 70 year old woman presented to the hospital with abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a common bile duct stone.

Her past medical history was significant for smoking, obesity, OSA on CPAP, and asthma on inhaled steroids.

The patient also had tracheal stenosis from a prior intubation and was aware of it, seeing an ENT annually.

After a successful ERCP under GA the patient returned 2 weeks later for a lap chole.

The anesthesiologist intubated her using a Glidescope with a bougie and a 6.5mm ETT.

The difficulty was commented on the anesthesia record as “medium difficulty.”

The patient was extubated and brought to recovery at 10:45am.

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The patient was treated for an allergic reaction.

Then at midnight she worsened.

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