Complications in the use of the subcutaneous tunnelled intratracheal oxygen catheter

Transtracheal oxygen delivery seems to be a safe procedure in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with chronic hypoxaemia. Even so, serious complications do occur. Three patients in whom we used a subcutaneous tunnelled intratracheal oxygen catheter (ITO2C) are described. Surgical intervention was required in all because of complications from the procedure. One of the complications--tracheal and catheter obstruction with stridor and subcutaneous emphysema by granulomatous tissue--has to our knowledge not been reported before.