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Sevoflurane mask anesthesia for urgent tracheostomy in an uncooperative trauma patient with a difficult airway

Charles E. Smith, MD FRCPC^* and William F. Fallon, Jr, MD FACS

^* From the Departments of Anesthesiology and
Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44109 USA.

Address correspondence to: Dr. C.E. Smith, Department of Anesthesiology, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, Ohio, 44109 USA. Phone: 216-778-3616; Fax: 216-778-5378; E-mail: ces4{at}po.cwru.edu

Purpose: Proper care of the trauma patient often includes tracheal intubation to insure adequate ventilation and oxygenation, protect the airway from aspiration, and facilitate surgery. Airway management can be particularly complex when there are facial bone fractures, head injury and cervical spine instability.

Clinical Features: A 29-yr-old intoxicated woman suffered a motor vehicle accident. Injuries consisted of multiple abrasions to her head, forehead, and face, right temporal lobe hemorrhage, and complex mandibular fractures with displacement. Mouth opening was < 10 mm. Blood pressure was 106/71 mmHg, pulse 109, respirations 18, temperature 37.3°C, SpO₂ 100%. Chest and pelvic radiographs were normal and the there was increased anterior angulation of C4-C5 on the cervical spine film. Drug screen was positive for cocaine and alcohol. The initial plan was to perform awake tracheostomy with local anesthesia. However, the patient was uncooperative despite sedation and infiltration of local anesthesia. Sevoflurane, 1%, inspired in oxygen 100%, was administered via face mask. The concentration of sevoflurane was gradually increased to 4%, and loss of consciousness occurred within one minute. The patient breathed spontaneously and required gentle chin lift and jaw thrust. A cuffed tracheostomy tube was surgically inserted without complication. Blood gas showed pH 7.40, PCO₂ 35 mmHg, PO₂ 396 mmHg, hematocrit 33.6%. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage was negative. Pulmonary aspiration did not occur. Oxygenation and ventilation were maintained throughout the procedure.

Conclusion: Continuous mask ventilation with sevoflurane is an appropriate technique when confronted with an uncooperative trauma patient with a difficult airway.