Transtracheal oxygen catheterization with pneumomediastinum and sudden death

A 69-year-old man with hypoxemic COPD underwent placement of a transtracheal oxygen (TTO) catheter. At 3 months, the catheter tract appeared mature with minimal erythema and no evidence of infection at the catheter site. The patient and his spouse were taught to remove and reinsert the catheter but were told to delay beginning the procedure due to erythema at the stoma site. Despite instructions not to remove the catheter for cleaning, the spouse removed the TTO catheter and attempted to reinsert it using the flexible metal cleaning rod. Subsequently, the patient suffered an acute episode of subcutaneous air and hemodynamic collapse resulting in death. Necropsy revealed a false catheter tract occluded by clotted blood and a defect in the platysma muscle where oxygen had dissected into the mediastinum. The patient died due to pneumomediastinum and cardiac tamponade.