Fiberoptic intubation prevents a tracheostomy in a trauma victim.

A 36-year-old male presented with knife-inflicted neck trauma. He was intubated in the emergency department but subsequently experienced an unplanned extubation. Multiple attempts at reintubation were unsuccessful with cricothyrotomy providing lifesaving. The patient was then fiberoptically intubated under controlled conditions sparing the victim from what otherwise would probably have been a tracheostomy.