Vol 6 | Issue 3 | September-December 2020 | Page 05-07 | David Jones, Veena Surendrakumar, Ismail Vokshi, Nicholas Oscroft
Author: David Jones [1], Veena Surendrakumar [1], Ismail Vokshi [1], Nicholas Oscroft [1]
[1] Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Address of Correspondence
Dr. David Jones,
Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
E-mail: David.jones69@nhs.net
Acute Upper Airway Obstruction Secondary to Retained Respiratory
Secretions in a Patient with SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Failure Treated
with Prolonged CPAP
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus which can cause respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. We describe the first documented case of life-threatening upper airway obstruction due to retained secretions around a nasogastric (NG) tube in a patient suffering with this disease who was managed with prolonged continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP). This case highlights the need for awareness around the development of an upper airway mass due to tenacious secretions in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients and the need to develop preventative strategies in order to prevent avoidable mortality.
Keywords: Airway obstruction; CPAP; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus; Nasogastric tube; Non-invasive ventilation.
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How to Cite this Article: Jones D, Surendrakumar V, Vokshi I, Oscroft N | Acute Upper Airway Obstruction Secondary to Retained Respiratory Secretions in a Patient with SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Failure Treated with Prolonged CPAP | Journal of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Case Reports | September-December 2020; 6(3): 05-07. |