Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 5/2004

Open Access 01-10-2004 | Research

Case report: A ball valve blood clot in the airways – life-saving whole tube suction

Authors: Dave A Dongelmans, Rene E Jonkers, Marcus J Schultz

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 5/2004

Login to get access

Abstract

Respiratory tract obstruction due to a blood clot may result in life threatening ventilatory impairment. Ball valve blood clot obstructions of the airways are rare. A ball valve blood clot acts as a one-way valve, allowing (near) normal air entry into the airways, but (completely) blocking expiration. In a near fatal case of obstruction of the airways by a ball valve blood clot, we performed 'whole tube suction' to resolve the airway problem.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
2.
Kruczek ME, Hoff BH, Keszler BR, Smith RB: Blood clot resulting in ball-valve obstruction in the airway. Crit Care Med 1982, 10: 122-123.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Popovich J Jr, Babcock R: Intraluminal blood clot casts causing obstructive emphysema and recurrent pneumothorax. Crit Care Med 1982, 10: 482-483.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Foucher P, Merati M, Baudouin N, Reybet-Degat O, Camus P, Jeannin L: Fatal ball-valve airway obstruction by an extensive blood clot during mechanical ventilation. Eur Respir J 1996, 9: 2181-2182. 10.1183/09031936.96.09102181CrossRefPubMed
5.
Arney KL, Judson MA, Sahn SA: Airway obstruction arising from blood clot: three reports and a review of the literature. Chest 1999, 115: 293-300. 10.1378/chest.115.1.293CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Case report: A ball valve blood clot in the airways – life-saving whole tube suction
Authors
Dave A Dongelmans
Rene E Jonkers
Marcus J Schultz
Publication date
01-10-2004
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 5/2004
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc2903

Other articles of this Issue 5/2004

Critical Care 5/2004 Go to the issue

Commentary

Role of iron in anaemic critically ill patients: it's time to investigate!

Commentary

Recently published papers: The message is clear – start early?

Review

Pro/con clinical debate: Tracheostomy is ideal for withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in severe neurological impairment

Review

Clinical review: Hemorrhagic shock

Research

Critical care procedure logging using handheld computers

Research

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on gastric mucosal perfusion in acute respiratory distress syndrome