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Surgical emphysema following percutaneous tracheostomy
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
|March 2, 1999
Summary
Surgical emphysema following the Portex GWDFT procedure was linked to posterior tracheal wall tears in two patients. A management plan for this rare complication is proposed.
Area of Science:
- Medical devices
- Surgical complications
- Respiratory medicine
Background:
- Tracheostomy is a common procedure for airway management.
- The Portex GWDFT is a specific type of tracheostomy device.
- Complications can arise during or after tracheostomy procedures.
Observation:
- Two patients developed surgical emphysema after Portex GWDFT insertion.
- Further examination revealed posterior tracheal wall tears in both cases.
- The precise cause of these tracheal tears remains unclear.
Findings:
- Posterior tracheal wall tears are a potential complication of Portex GWDFT.
- The tracheostomy tube introducer might play a role in causing these tears.
- Surgical emphysema can be an indicator of tracheal injury.
Implications:
- Awareness of this complication is crucial for clinicians performing tracheostomies.
- Further investigation into the aetiology of tracheal tears is warranted.
- A structured management plan may improve patient outcomes for this complication.