Traumatic macroglossia: a life-threatening complication.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of muscle relaxants and a bite raiser to avoid continued tongue trauma. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A tertiary general intensive care unit (ICU). INTERVENTIONS: Muscle relaxation and bite raiser. MAIN RESULTS: Muscle relaxation and a bite raiser were used in a 17-yr-old male with traumatic macroglossia, which allowed for rapid resolution of edema and prevented additional trauma to the tongue. CONCLUSION: Early use of a bite raiser together with muscle relaxants allows for more rapid solution of edema and prevention of additional trauma to the tongue in patients with traumatic macroglossia.