Macroglossia may develop following surgery. This may be severe enough to compromise the airway and require intubation or tracheostomy.
Risk factors:
(1) pre-existing macroglossia (amyloid, etc.)
(2) preoperative traumatic macroglossia, especially if the person is receiving anticoagulants or is hypocoagulable
(3) head-down or prone positioning (spinal surgery, cleft palate repair, other) with vascular congestion of the tongue
(4) trauma to the tongue during surgery, especially if the person is receiving anticoagulants or is hypocoagulable
Trauma to the tongue during surgery may occur from:
(1) failure to use a bite block, with dental trauma
(2) compression by intra-oral devices during prolonged surgery
(3) seizures
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Specialty: Anesthesiology, Otolaryngology
