A novel use of esophageal tracheal airway: the control of torrential oral bleeding.

Combitube has been included in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) difficult airway algorithm for the emergency management of patients who can be neither intubated nor ventilated. The main advantages of the Combitube are minimal training required for its use and blind insertion with 90% success rate upon first attempt. The authors report a case of torrential oral bleeding in which the airway was secure and isolated by Combitube. The pharyngeal cuff of the Combitube was overinflated so as to create a tamponade effect to control otherwise uncontrollable and inaccessible oral bleeding.