Bronchoscopic Cuff Tamponade for Post-Intubation Tracheal Bleeding

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pulmonology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Post-intubation tracheal bleeding is a rare but severe complication.
• Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) often receive antithrombotic therapy, increasing bleeding risk.
• Massive haemoptysis necessitates prompt diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of massive haemoptysis following TAVI and endotracheal intubation.
• To highlight the efficacy of bronchoscopically guided endotracheal tube cuff tamponade for tracheal bleeding.

Main Methods:

• A 66-year-old female patient developed haemoptysis post-TAVI and intubation.
• Emergency bronchoscopy was performed to identify the bleeding source.
• Endotracheal tube cuff repositioning and inflation were used for direct haemostasis.

Main Results:

• Bronchoscopy identified active bleeding from the distal trachea.
• Cuff tamponade achieved immediate and complete haemostasis.
• The patient recovered, and bleeding ceased with mucosal healing.

Conclusions:

• Bronchoscopically guided endotracheal tube cuff tamponade is an effective, minimally invasive technique for localized tracheal bleeding.
• Early bronchoscopy is crucial for diagnosis and management of post-intubation tracheal bleeding.
• This technique offers a simple, readily available bedside solution for haemostasis.