Thermal injury to the tongue from an operative laryngoscope. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007 Nov;137(5):798-802
Date
10/31/2007Pubmed ID
17967649DOI
10.1016/j.otohns.2007.06.723Scopus ID
2-s2.0-35448942322 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 10 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To understand risk and possible mechanisms of thermal injury to the tongue during suspension laryngoscopy.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Tongue injury was noted following suspension laryngoscopy in a cluster of cases; the findings raised suspicion for thermal injury. To characterize the potential for thermal injury, a lighted laryngoscope was placed in contact with samples of tongue. Tissue heating was recorded over time at fixed distances from the light carrier within a laryngoscope. Comparisons were made between two light sources and carriers.
RESULTS: Maximal tissue heating using a newer-model light source and new carrier was 16.7 degrees F immediately beneath the light carrier tip and 19.8 degrees F at 1 cm distal to the carrier tip. Other combinations of an older source and carriers failed to raise temperatures. Heating up to 10.7 degrees F occurred with the new source and an older carrier.
CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Tissue heating may occur from contact with operative laryngoscopes. This is an important patient safety issue in laryngology.
Author List
McMullin BT, Blumin JH, Merati ALAuthor
Joel H. Blumin MD Chief, Professor in the Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
BurnsHumans
Intraoperative Complications
Laryngoscopes
Laryngoscopy
Temperature
Tongue
