Abstract
Throat packs are commonly placed in the patient's pharynx before oral surgical procedures
under general anaesthesia. The pack is thought to protect the airways from aspiration
of surgical debris, but if it is retained after extubation it can obstruct the airway.
Adverse incidents after retention of throat packs have been reported anecdotally,
but to our knowledge the risk management practices undertaken and common events surrounding
retention of throat packs, have not been published before. We investigated the management
of throat packs in 2007, by sending a questionnaire to maxillofacial surgeons and
anaesthetists in the UK. We discuss the results and apply them to an organisational
accident model.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 26, 2008
Accepted:
February 3,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
