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Updated: Aug 7, 2025

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway
Published on: June 6, 2020
[INTUBATION RELATED TRACHEAL RUPTURE: EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED]
Ido Neuman1, Boris Krasula1, Mordechai R Kramer2
1Department of Anesthesiology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Introduction:
This case involved a 67-year-old female who was admitted for general anesthesia for a mitral clip procedure. Following anesthesia induction, the patient underwent an uneventful orotracheal intubation. Shortly afterwards she developed an ongoing respiratory failure, accompanied by neck and chest subcutaneous emphysema. Upon workup, she was found to have a 6 cm long tracheal laceration on the posterior side. Emergency repair surgery was performed using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO). The patient passed away 11 days later from sepsis. The aim of this case report is to increase awareness of this rare intubation complication, and explore the best approach to prevent, diagnose and treat tracheal injuries during endotracheal intubation.
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