CASE REPORT   

Otorinolaringologia 2020 September;70(3):109-11

DOI: 10.23736/S0392-6621.20.02271-7

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Fractured tracheostomy tube: an unforeseen complication

Jeyasakthy SANIASIAYA ¹ ✉, Irfan MOHAMAD ², Nik F. NIK HASSAN ²

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, Seremban, Malaysia; ² Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Health Campus, University Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Malaysia

Tracheostomy has become a common procedure in airway management. It can either be done as an elective or an emergency procedure based on the indication. Albeit, a common procedure complication following the procedure can be devastating. Herein, we report a rare case of fractured tracheostomy tube in an elderly female which dislodged into the right bronchus. The fractured tube was successfully removed via rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. We would like to draw attention to the fact that tracheostomy care mandates early recognition of wear and tear sign of the tube as to avoid devastating outcome to the patient.

KEY WORDS: Tracheostomy; Airway obstruction; Complications