A 78-year-old female patient, without comorbidities, presented with syncope, a drop in the level of consciousness and respiratory dysfunction. The clinical hypothesis was cerebrovascular accident. The patient underwent emergency orotracheal intubation at home and was taken
IntroductionTracheal injury due to orotracheal intubation is a rare and potentially fatal complication. It can be caused by a single-lumen or a double-lumen tube, typically in emergency orotracheal intubation. It usually presents as a linear lesion in the membranous wall of the trachea, and it is more prevalent in women.(1) Diagnosis is confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and the treatment can be either conservative or surgical.
Post-intubation tracheal injury
AbstractPost-intubation tracheal injury is a rare and potentially fatal complication. Among the most common causes, cuff overinflation and repetitive attempts of orotracheal intubation in emergency situations are paramount. Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiological suspicion, confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Both conservative and surgical management apply, and the decision-making process depends on the patient profile (comorbidities, respiratory stability), characteristics of the lesion (size and location) and the time elapsed between the occurrence of the injury and the diagnosis. We report the cases of three patients presenting tracheal laceration due to traumatic orotracheal intubation, two submitted to surgical treatment and one submitted to conservative treatment.Keywords: Tracheal diseases; Rupture; Intubation.
ResumoA laceração traqueal pós-intubação é uma complicação rara e potencialmente fatal. Entre as principais causas, se destacam a hiperinsuflação do balonete e tentativas repetidas de intubação em situações de emergência. O diagnóstico depende da suspeita clínico-radiológica e da confirmação por fibrobroncoscopia. O manejo pode ser conservador ou cirúrgico, e essa opção depende de fatores do paciente (comorbidades, estabilidade ventilatória), das características da lesão (tamanho e topografia) e do tempo decorrido até o diagnóstico. O presente estudo relata três casos de laceração traqueal decorrente de trauma de intubação com dois pacientes submetidos a tratamento operatório e um deles ao tratamento conservador.Descritores: Doenças da traqueia; Ruptura; Intubação.