A potential complication associated with percutaneous tracheostomy with an endotracheal tube with a Murphy eye in situ

Application of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Monitoring during Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy: A Novel Technique

Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure monitoring during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) procedure is an easy-to-use innovative addition to the standard blind technique in a resource-limited setting. This technique can be carried out without disconnecting the breathing circuit, resulting in a lower risk of infectious aerosol generation.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with laryngeal mask airway control in a morbidly obese patient

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a widely used and accepted method of long-term ventilation of critically ill patients in many intensive care units. However, it has certain contraindications that must be taken into account; for example, difficult anatomy and short, bull neck that are so often seen in morbidly obese persons. We present a case of a morbidly obese female patient in whom ultrasound-guided PDT was performed and in whom the airway was controlled by Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) during the procedure. Possible advantages of an ultrasonography-guided method and LMA control in morbidly obese patients also are discussed.

Light-guided tracheal puncture for percutaneous tracheostomy

PURPOSE

To determine the effectiveness of lightwand-guided tracheal puncture for percutaneous tracheostomy.

METHODS

The desired puncture site was marked on the skin of the anterior neck. A lightwand (Trachlight) was inserted into the patient's endotracheal tube (ETT), so that the number indicator on the lightwand matched the number indicator of the ETT of the patient. At this position, the light bulb of the lightwand was exactly placed at the tip of the endotracheal tube. With the lightwand turned on, the lightwand together with the endotracheal tube (ETT-LW) was slowly withdrawn from the trachea until a bright glow in the anterior neck could be seen 1 cm above the marked puncture site. At this position, the tip of the ETT was 1 cm above the puncture site.

RESULTS

Percutaneous tracheostomy via a light-guided tracheal puncture was performed on 11 neurosurgical patients. The withdrawal of the endotracheal tube to a location above the puncture was accomplished easily with the lightwand. All percutaneous tracheostomies performed were successful, with ease and without any complications. The procedure time was 17.8 +/- 5.3 min. Mechanical ventilation was not interrupted during the whole procedure.

CONCLUSION

The lightwand guided intratracheal puncture for percutaneous tracheostomy is a simple, effective, and safe procedure. This technique can avoid the risk of puncturing the endotracheal tube and/or cuff, thus allowing adequate ventilation and oxygenation during the percutaneous tracheostomy. Furthermore, this technique is inexpensive and minimizes the risk of damaging equipment like the fibreoptic bronchoscope.