Iatrogenic tracheobronchial rupture after emergency intubation

Main Article Content

Holger Rupprecht Harald Dormann Katharina Gaab

Abstract

Tracheal rupture is a rare but serious complication after endotracheal intubation.


We report the case of an 85-years-old female patient presenting a massive skin emphysema after endotracheal emergency intubation. A CT-scan of the thorax showed a massive mediastinal emphysema and a dislocated tube cuff in the pleural cavity. The implemented bronchoscopy also showed the suspicion for tracheal rupture.


A double-lumen-tube-intubation failed due to a trapped tube cuff, which could not be extracted.  In the following emergency surgery, the transthoracic intubation of the left main bronchus was the lifesaving procedure. Afterwards a successful tracheal reconstruction was made. 


When tracheal rupture occurs early detection and an accurate treatment is necessary.

Keywords: Emergency intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, tracheobronchial rupture, transthoracic bronchial intubation

Article Details

How to Cite
RUPPRECHT, Holger; DORMANN, Harald; GAAB, Katharina. Iatrogenic tracheobronchial rupture after emergency intubation. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 8, n. 7, july 2020. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/2186>. Date accessed: 18 apr. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v8i7.2186.
Section
Research Articles

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