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Complications of percutaneous tracheostomy
T Briche1, Y Le Manach, B Pats
1Department of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart Cedex, France. t_briche@club-internet.fr
Chest
|April 11, 2001
Summary
Percutaneous tracheostomy, a common intensive care procedure, can lead to rare but serious tracheal stenosis. This case report highlights the need for awareness of this potential complication and its management.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Intensive Care Medicine
Background:
- Percutaneous tracheostomy is a widely adopted bedside procedure in intensive care units.
- The technique is generally considered safe with a low complication rate.
Observation:
- Two cases of tracheal stenosis following percutaneous tracheostomy are presented.
- One patient required surgical anastomotic resection, while the other needed an endoluminal conformer.
Findings:
- Tracheal stenosis is a previously unreported complication associated with percutaneous tracheostomy.
- The severity of stenosis necessitated distinct and invasive treatment modalities.
Implications:
- This finding suggests a need to re-evaluate the perceived safety profile of percutaneous tracheostomy.
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for tracheal stenosis in patients with relevant history.
- Further research may be warranted to elucidate the incidence and mechanisms of this complication.