Lingual nerve injury after use of a cuffed oropharyngeal airway

Authors: Kadry, M. A.; Popat, M. T.

Source: European Journal of Anaesthesiology, Volume 18, Number 4, April 2001 , pp. 264-266(3)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Summary

The cuffed oropharyngeal airway is a modified Guedel airway and is recommended for anaesthesia in spontaneously breathing patients. To our knowledge this is the first report of transient unilateral lingual nerve palsy after the use of a cuffed oropharyngeal airway to maintain anaesthesia during arthroscopy of an ankle. The aetiology of lingual nerve damage is multifactorial. The possible mechanisms involved include anterior displacement of the mandible during insertion of the cuffed oropharyngeal airway (as in the jaw thrust manoeuvre), compression of the nerve against the mandible, or stretching of the nerve over the hyoglossus by the cuff of the cuffed oropharyngeal airway. We recommend gentle airway manipulation with the use of the cuffed oropharyngeal airway, avoidance of excessive cuff inflation and early recognition of such a complication if it occurs.

Keywords: equipment and supplies; disposable equipment; cuffed oropharyngeal airway; cranial nerves; trigeminal nerve; mandibular nerve; lingual nerve; injuries; lingual nerve

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.0265-0215.2000.00838.x

Affiliations: 1: Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, England, UK

Publication date: 2001-04-01