Final answer:
Inserting a nasopharyngeal airway in a patient with facial trauma may result in a basilar skull fracture and hematoma formation, increasing intracranial pressure and posing a rapid, life-threatening risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most serious potential complication of nasopharyngeal airway insertion in a patient with facial trauma is the risk of causing a basilar skull fracture, leading to intracranial bleeding or development of a hematoma. This condition is critical because it can exert increasing pressure on the brain, potentially resulting in rapid deterioration and death if not promptly treated.
When a patient has facial trauma, particularly around the pterion, which is a thin and fragile part of the skull, even minimal additional pressure or misplacement of nasopharyngeal airway can cause a fracture. If an artery beneath the pterion is damaged, a hematoma can form between the brain and the inside of the skull, causing the pressure to build up as blood accumulates. This is a time-sensitive emergency as the symptoms may not appear immediately after the injury, but can progress rapidly to cause severe neurological impairments or even death.