Emergency use of Eschlmann Stylet (tracheal tube introducer) in acute tracheo bronchial obstruction during general anesthesia.

Introduction Airway obstruction caused by blood clots is a rare complication of endobronchial haemorrhage. Treatment methods include manual extraction by forceps, suctioning, saline solution lavage, balloon tip embolectomy and coude catheter embolectomy.1 Sudden endobronchial blockage by a firm blood clot acutely occurring during general anesthesia is a potenttially life threatening condition if not recognized and treated urgently. We describe a case in which Eschlmann Stylet (tracheal tube introducer) which has been used successfully for changing the endotracheal tubes safely over the years, was used to break an obstructing blood clot in the trachea of a trauma patient with multiple injuries. She was undergoing an open reduction and internal fixation of the spiral fracture of the distal femoral shaft under general anesthesia.