[Indwelling transtracheal sound for oxygen administration in the patient with hypoxic chronic respiratory...

A new technique for administering oxygen to patients with severe chronic respiratory failure is reported. It consists of introducing a catheter, 2 mm in diameter, into the trachea between the second and third tracheal rings under local anesthesia. The technique was used in a 70-year old patient with severe chronic obstructive lung disease and resulted in significant reduction of dyspnoea, improvement in general condition with a weight gain of 6 kg in 6 months, and a 15 mmHg increase in arterial partial oxygen pressure for the same oxygen flow rate. This technique appears to be indicated for patients with chronic respiratory failure whenever dyspnoea is not adequately reduced by oxygen given through a nasal tube.