A case of unusual difficult airway because of an intracranial foreign body of bamboo chopstick

How to choose a craniotomy for the intracranial foreign bodies when the airway was occupied: a case report

Background

Intracranial foreign bodies caused by trauma are rare in clinical emergency cases. Similar reports in the past pay less attention to establish artificial ventilation for these patients for the following anesthesia and surgery.

Case information

We reported a 3-year-old boy who suffered from oral penetration of the cerebellum from the skull base by a chopstick after a fall. To avoid pediatric tracheotomy, we conducted a reconstruction analysis by spiral CT scan and found a transnasal tracheal intubation pathway allowing the endotracheal tube through, successfully established artificial ventilation, and smoothly implemented the removal surgery of foreign bodies under general anesthesia. The child was cured and discharged without surgical complications or sequelae during the follow-up.

Conclusion

Imaging technology plays an important role in determining airway during endotracheal intubation.

Transoral penetrating craniocerebral injury by a bamboo chopstick in a child

We present a 3-year-old girl with a transoral injury by a bamboo chopstick penetrating the middle skull base. The features of imaging are described and the management is discussed. The potential for injury to the cavernous sinus is emphasized, even if no there is no hemorrhage on the initial CT scan. Early intracranial infection in relation to penetrating injuries is a factor in planning treatment by craniotomy.