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Esophageal intubation

Case contributed by Craig Hacking
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Trauma, primary aeromedical retrieval.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

The ETT courses to the right and is not superimposed in the trachea or RMB. Bilateral airspace opacities greater in the left lung. Large volume of gas in the stomach.

Case Discussion

The ETT is located in the esophagus which explains the gas-filled stomach. The pulmonary opacities partially cleared once the patient was re-intubated successfully.

Intubation at the scene of trauma (pre-hospital intubation) can be extremely difficult and is obviously more challenging without the comforts of hospital equipment, staff and support.

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