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[A six-year-old girl with dyspnea following tracheocutaneous repair]
Kim Alexander Tønseth1, Kjetil Stubberud, Tomm Bjaerke
1Plastikkirurgisk avdeling, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo. kim.tonseth@rikshospitalet.no
Insights
Post-tracheostomy scar revision surgery can lead to rare but severe complications like pneumothorax. Careful postoperative observation is crucial for managing these potential issues in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Tracheostomy removal can result in scarring and persistent tracheocutaneous fistulas.
- Surgical correction is typically a minor procedure with low complication rates.
Observation:
- A six-year-old girl underwent surgery for scar formation and a tracheocutaneous fistula.
- Postoperatively, she experienced a cough attack leading to subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and bilateral pneumothorax.
Findings:
- The patient required intensive care, thoracic drainage, and antibiotic prophylaxis.
- Despite initial severe complications, her condition improved, and she was discharged on day six.
Implications:
- Surgical treatment for post-tracheostomy complications necessitates vigilant postoperative monitoring.
- Prompt management of severe complications is essential for patient recovery.
Background:
A few patients develop prominent scars combined with persistent fistula after the removal of a long-standing tracheostomy tube. The procedure needed to correct the condition is generally considered minor surgery, normally without any significant complications. We describe, however, a patient who developed a particularly complicated postoperative course.
Material And Methods:
The patient was a six-year-old girl who underwent surgery because of significant scar formation and a persistent small tracheocutaneous fistula eight months after removal of the tube. Postoperatively she had a cough attack and developed spontaneously subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and bilateral pneumothorax. She required intensive care, thoracic drainage and antibiotic prophylaxis. Over the next days her situation improved and she was discharged on the sixth day.
Interpretation:
Operative treatment of scarring after tracheostomy in which the surgeon also confronts a tracheocutaneous fistula or an opening into the tracheal lumen requires postoperative observation so that any severe complications can be managed.
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