Prolonged nasotracheal intubation in recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma

Nik Fariza Husna NIK HASSAN ^{1, 2} and Irfan MOHAMAD ¹

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kelantan and ² School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Endotracheal intubation is usually the preferred technique of securing a compromised airway. In prolonged intubation, a tracheostomy is usually created to avoid complications of prolonged ventilation. However, the condition of the patient or the disease itself sometimes does not permit this conversion. Therefore keeping the tube in situ for prolonged durations may be needed. We report the case of a 62-year-old Malay man with recurrent papillary carcinoma of thyroid involving the trachea that was managed with the use of nasotracheal intubation for stenting the airway.

Keywords: Airway, intubation, nose, trachea, stent

Correspondence author: Irfan MOHAMAD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Tel: 609-7676420

E mail: irfan@kb.usm.my

Brunei Int Med J. 2012; 8 (4): 202-204