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Bronchial complication of a closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter

Luis García-Aparicio1, Monserrat Castañón, Xavier Tarrado

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Univeristy of Barcelona, Spain.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|October 16, 2002
PubMed

Insights

A rare complication in premature infants occurred when a closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter ruptured, causing a persistent pneumothorax. This case highlights the need for vigilance during endotracheal suctioning in neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Neonatal Intensive Care
  • Medical Device Complications

Background:

  • Iatrogenic bronchial complications in intubated premature infants are uncommon.
  • Closed-tube endotracheal suctioning is a standard procedure in neonatal intensive care.

Observation:

  • A case of a ruptured closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter in an intubated premature infant is presented.
  • The infant developed a persistent pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement.
  • Imaging (X-ray, CT scan) confirmed a foreign body in the bronchus.

Findings:

  • Flexible bronchoscopy identified a catheter fragment in the left bronchus.
  • A rigid bronchoscope successfully removed the foreign body without causing perforation.
  • This represents the first reported case of endobronchial rupture of a closed-tube suction catheter.

Implications:

  • This case underscores a previously unreported risk associated with closed-tube endotracheal suctioning in neonates.
  • Awareness of this complication is crucial for clinicians managing intubated premature infants.
  • Further investigation into catheter integrity and suctioning techniques may be warranted.

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