Fractured and migrated tracheostomy tube in the tracheobronchial tree

Anesthetic Management of a Broken Tracheostomy Tube Stem as a Foreign Body in the Trachea: A Case Report

Tracheostomy is commonly performed in patients to secure the airway. There are known early and late complications related to tracheostomy. Few case reports have described the rupture of the stem of the tracheostomy tube and its migration into the tracheobronchial tree. Here we describe a pediatric case with a broken stem of the tracheostomy tube in the trachea, acting as a foreign body and causing mild respiratory distress. The patient was successfully managed with neck exploration under general anesthesia using a supraglottic airway device in low-resource settings. In addition, we have described the potential problems that may be faced while managing the airway of such patients and how to deal with these complications.

Track your trach: Removal of a fractured tracheostomy tube using a flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope in a patient with severe head injury

Tracheostomy is a common airway procedure for life support in critically ill patients with head injuries. This procedure is safe but also associated with early and late complications. Tube fracture and dislodgement into the tracheobronchial tree leading to airway obstruction is a rare but life-threatening complication after prolonged tracheostomy tube placement. There are very few published reports of tracheostomy tube fracture and dislodgement into tracheobronchial tree in a neurologically injured patient. We report a case of a fractured tracheostomy tube which got impacted in the left main bronchus, in a 41-year-old male patient who had been on prolonged tracheostomy tube after craniotomy and evacuation of subdural hematoma. The distal part of the tracheostomy tube fractured and impacted in the left main bronchus. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was performed through the oral cavity to extract it, and the anaesthetic management during the period is discussed.

Fracture Outer Metallic Tracheostomy Tube as an Airway Foreign Body

To study the clinical presentation, management and mechanism of fractured outer metallic tracheostomy tube presenting as tracheobronchial foreign body. A retrospective chart review patients with fracture outer metallic tracheostomy tube. Data regarding the patients' demographic data, diagnosis, clinical presentation, type of tracheostomy tube and site of fracture were analyzed. Total 4 cases of fracture outer metallic tracheostomy tube were found. There were 3 males and 1 female, average age 52.75 years, range 31-76 years. The common presentation were dyspnea, intolerable cough and decreased breath sound in 4(100%), 2(50%) and 2(50%) cases. The most serious presentation was cardiac arrested 1 case. The dislodged tube were retrieved by flexible and rigid bronchoscopy. The most common site of fracture were outer tube at mid shaft 3 cases (75%). All of this site had corrosion. Only 1 case (25%) was fracture at junction between neck plate and tube without corrosion. The average time of usage metallic tracheostomy tube was 24 days, range 3-34 days. Fracture tracheostomy tube is rare and serious medical emergency. The patients, caregivers and physicians should recognition and prompt action. Flexible or rigid bronchoscopy via tracheostoma can successfully removal the dislodge part. The mechanism of fracture may come from several factors. The defective manufacturer, stagnation of alkaline bronchial secretion, recurrence process of removal, cleaning and boiling of the tube can cause mechanical stress and degradation of passive film of the tubes. The patient education regarding the maintenance and regular checked up can possibly extinguish this complication.

Clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of aerodigestive tract foreign bodies in the paediatric population: Part 2

Children, especially toddlers, because of their behaviour, physiology and anatomical characteristics such as oral exploration of their surroundings, have a tendency to place objects in their mouth. Therefore, ingestion or aspiration of foreign bodies (FBs) in children is a potentially life-threatening and common problem seen across the world. In this second part of our pictorial review on ingested and aspirated FBs, we focus on the paediatric population, reviewing the current literature and examining the epidemiology, clinical presentation, anatomic considerations, appropriate imaging modalities, key imaging characteristics associated with clinically relevant FBs in the emergency department (ED) and current management protocols.

A laceration of a wired silastic tracheostomy tube: A case report and review of the literature

Fractured tracheostomy tube is a rare, late complication. It typically occurs at the junction of metallic tube. We report an atypical case with laceration of the main trunk of a silastic tube after short period of use (10 days).

Aspiration Pneumonia Due to Migration of Fracture Tracheostomy Tube after 14 Years of Use

Tracheostomy is a common life-saving surgical procedure, which has its own short- and long-term surgical complications. Occasionally, after being in place for several years, the tube may fracture, causing a foreign body reaction in the bronchus followed by life-threatening pneumonia. We report a rare case of a 29-year-old man with a known leukodystrophy disorder whose tracheostomy tube was never changed in 14 years. He presented with signs of sepsis and respiratory distress. The management and intraoperative findings, including recommendations for tracheostomy care, were described.

Anesthetic management of a patient with an unusual broken tracheostomy tube: a case report

Objective

This study was performed to investigate the management of general anesthesia in an unusual case involving a patient with a broken tracheostomy tube presenting as an airway foreign body.

Methods

We herein describe the anesthetic management of a patient with a broken tracheostomy tube. A 77-year-old Chinese man who had been involved in a car accident underwent a tracheostomy. One year later, he presented with cough and bleeding at the tracheostomy site. Preoperative evaluation revealed that the metal tracheostomy tube was lodged in his left main bronchus. General anesthesia was induced to maintain spontaneous breathing, and adequate topical anesthesia of the airway was administered.

Results

The metal tracheostomy tube was successful removed, and a new tracheal tube was put in place.

Conclusions

General anesthesia to maintain spontaneous breathing and adequate topical anesthesia of the airway can be safely used when removing broken tracheostomy tubes.

Multidisciplinary guidelines for the management of paediatric tracheostomy emergencies

Temporary and permanent tracheostomies are required in children to manage actual or anticipated long-term ventilatory support, to aid secretion management or to manage fixed upper airway obstruction. Tracheostomies may be required from the first few moments of life, with the majority performed in children < 4 years of age. Although similarities with adult tracheostomies are apparent, there are key differences when managing the routine and emergency care of children with tracheostomies. The National Tracheostomy Safety Project identified the need for structured guidelines to aid multidisciplinary clinical decision making during paediatric tracheostomy emergencies. These guidelines describe the development of a bespoke emergency management algorithm and supporting resources. Our aim is to reduce the frequency, nature and severity of paediatric tracheostomy emergencies through preparation and education of staff, parents, carers and patients.

Fractured tracheostomy tube presenting as a foreign body in a paediatric patient

Tracheostomy tube fracture and aspiration into the tracheobronchial tree leading to airway obstruction is a dangerous complication after tracheostomy. We report a case of a fractured tracheostomy tube in a 6-year-old child who had been maintained on a tracheostomy tube for the past 5 years. The tracheostomy tube got fractured at the junction of the tube and neck plate, and impacted in the trachea and right main bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy performed through the tracheostomy stoma to retrieve the fractured tracheostomy tube and the anaesthetic management during the period are discussed.