Emergency tracheostomy following life-threatening hemorrhage in the floor of the mouth during immediate implant placement in the mandibular canine region

Background: The edentulous interforaminal mandibular area is frequently the preferred area for implant placement. Methods: A case of emergency tracheostomy following life-threatening hemorrhage in the floor of the mouth during immediate implant placement in the mandibular canine region is described. The probable cause was bleeding from the sublingual artery or a branch of that artery following implant perforation of the lingual cortex. Results: Healing was uneventful and the patient was released from the hospital after 11 days. Three years later, CT showed a well-osseointegrated implant with a severe buccolingual inclination. Conclusions: It is stressed that short implants (14 mm or less) should be used in the mandibular canine region and that effective treatment of this complication is essential. J Periodontol 2000;71:1893-1895.