Difficult airway management and cardiac arrest in an obese patient with maxillofacial fractures: a case report

We present a case report of a challenging airway management and subsequent cardiac arrest in an obese patient with complex maxillofacial fractures. The patient, a young unknown man involved in a motorcycle accident, was brought to the emergency department with a low level of consciousness. Cervical immobilization was initiated, and the patient was triaged as a level 1 according to the Emergency Severity Index. Despite the use of a cervical collar, airway compromise and severe maxillofacial bleeding necessitated immediate intervention. This case report highlights the challenges encountered during intubation, the development of tension pneumothorax, and the successful management of cardiac arrest in this complex trauma patient.