Titolo: CERVICAL INCISION AND LONGITUDINAL TRACHEOTOMY AS APPROACH TO POST-INTUBATION TRACHEAL RUPTURE

Abstract
Background. Membranous tracheal lacerations are serious complication of endotracheal intubation. Smaller tears are often better managed with a conservative treatment. Larger ruptures, especially when associate with important manifestations, need an early sugical repair.
Methods. Five females with a posterior tracheal wall laceration, related to endotracheal intubation, underwent surgical procedure in our institution. All tracheal tears were repaired with a running suture through a small cervical collar incision and a longitudinal tracheotomy.
Results. In all cases surgical procedure lasted less than 1 hour. All patients were discharged after an average of 5,5 days. Endoscopic follow-up showed neither signs nor symptoms of tracheal stenosis.
Conclusions. This is a quick and safe approach to a rare but insidious complication of general anaesthesia.

In stampa su: Annals of Thoracic Surgery