ACUTE AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION A CHILD WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA DURING CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERIZATION

We report the case of a seven-year-old girl with recently diagnosed ac ute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who suffered acute airway obstructio n during insertion of a central venous catheter under general anaesthe sia. The central airway obstruction was due to a mixture of leukaemic cells, blood clot and fibrin. There is discussion about airway obstruc tion both as a complication of central line insertion and secondary to ALL. The pulmonary complications of ALL, with particular reference to pulmonary haemorrhage, are detailed. The management of blood clot obs tructing the central airway is discussed.