A serious case of failed extubation: Difficulty removing a laser resistant tracheal tube in a 7-year-old child

Abstract

A 7-year-old girl underwent laser ablation of tonsillar remnants. Following the procedure, which was surgically uncomplicated, the laser resistant tracheal tube used could not be removed; it was firmly lodged in the larynx, immediately below the glottic opening. This case highlights the importance of careful selection of laser resistant tracheal tubes for use in paediatric patients and challenges traditional concepts of paediatric upper airway anatomy. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.