Complications and consequences of endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy: A prospective study of 150 critically ill adult patients

A prospective study of the complications and consequences of translaryngeal endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy was conducted on 150 critically ill adult patients. Adverse consequences occurred in 62 percent of all endotracheal intubations and in 66 percent of all tracheotomies during placement and use of the artificial airways. The most frequent problems during endotracheal intubation were excessive cuff pressure requirements (19 percent), self-extubation (13 percent) and inability to seal the airway (11 percent). Patient discomfort and difficulty in suctioning tracheobronchial secretions were very uncommon. Problems with tracheotomy included stomal infection (36 percent), stomal hemorrhage (36 percent), excessive cuff pressure requirements (23 percent) and subcutaneous emphysema or pneumomediastinum (13 percent). Complications of tracheotomy were judged to be more severe than those of endotracheal intubation. Follow-up studies of survivors revealed a high prevalence of tracheal stenosis after tracheotomy (65 percent) and significantly less after endotracheal intubation (19 percent) (p < 0.01). Thirty-nine of 41 (95 percent) patients with endotracheal intubation and 20 of 22 (91 percent) patients with tracheotomy had laryngotracheal injury at autopsy. Ulcers on the posterior aspect of the true vocal cords were found at autopsy in 51 percent of the patients who died after endotracheal intubation. There was no significant relationship between the duration of endotracheal intubation or tracheotomy and the over-all amount of laryngotracheal injury at autopsy, although patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation followed by tracheotomy had more laryngeal injury at autopsy (P = 0.06) and more frequent tracheal stenosis (P = 0.05) than patients with short-term endotracheal intubation followed by tracheotomy. Adverse effects of both endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy are common. The value of tracheotomy when an artificial airway is required for periods as long as three weeks is not supported by data obtained in this study.     

Intracuff pressures in endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes. Related cuff physical characteristics

This study compared intracuff pressure (ICP) during mechanical ventilation in a variety of currently used endotracheal (ET) and tracheostomy (trach) tube cuffs and related cuff physical characteristics. Tracheostomy tube physical characteristics were also measured. Variation was observed to exist between "just-seal" inspiratory and end-expiratory intracuff pressure during mechanical ventilation. Cuff diameter, thickness, compliance, geometry (shape), resting volume, and just-seal volume also varied. ICP varied with cuff diameter, thickness, compliance, geometry (shape), and trachea size, as well as tube curve and cuff position in the trachea. Thin, large-diameter, compliant cuffs generally "just seal" with relatively low ICPs. We recommend use of tracheal airways (endotracheal and tracheostomy) fitted with cuffs that seal in patients with low intracuff pressures. We also recommend nonrigid (soft) thermolabile tracheostomy tubes.     

Tracheal stenosis aftertracheostomy or intubation: review with special regard to cause and management

To investigate the management outcomes of patients who developed tracheal stenosis after tracheostomy or intubation, we reviewed the courses of 45 patients who had experienced tracheal stenosis at a single institution, over 19 years from February 1985 through January 2004. There were 38 tracheal and 7 infraglottic stenoses. Twenty-nine stenoses were associated with the stoma, 12 with the cuff, and 2 with the endotracheal tube resulting in infraglottic lesions; the remaining 2 were double stenoses. Eleven patients were treated by bronchoscopic surgery, and 34 patients were treated by tracheal or laryngotracheal resection. The overall success rate was 93%. The complication rate was 18%. A 2nd operation was required in 3 patients, and 1 of the 3 died of sepsis. Our management strategy of treating tracheal stenosis with resection and end-to-end anastomosis has been associated with good outcomes. Management of infraglottic stenosis is difficult, particularly when there is a large laryngeal defect or when there have been previous surgical attempts at the same site.     

Surgical results of 29 patients with benign tracheobronchial lesions

Abstract This study was carried out in order to evaluate the surgical results of benign tracheobronchial diseases. Between July 1988 and March 1996, tracheobronchial surgery was performed on 29 patients with a variety of benign diseases. The primary diseases were post intubation or post tracheostomy tracheal stenosis ( n = 12), tuberculous stenosis ( n = 7), congenital tracheal stenosis with or without vascular ring ( n = 4), tracheobronchial tumour ( n = 2), oesophageal tumour ( n = 1), and miscellaneous conditions ( n = 3). Thirty-one operative procedures included sleeve lobectomy ( n = 7), sleeve resection of trachea ( n = 17) and bronchus ( n = 2), and plastic surgery of trachea ( n = 4) and bronchus ( n = 1). There was one operative death, which put the mortality rate at 3.4%. There were five postoperative complications in this series (17.2%), including anastomotic disruption of trachea ( n = 1), bilateral vocal cord palsy ( n = 1), prolonged endotracheal intubation ( n =1) and overgrowth of granulation ( n = 2). The complication of anastomotic disruption of trachea was treated by insertion of a tracheal T-tube, and the granulation was treated by bronchoscopic excision. We suggest that tracheobronchoplasty is a safe procedure in carefully selected patients with benign diseases.     

Tracheal rupture and the creation of a false passage after emergency intubation

Endotracheal intubation is a common emergency department procedure with rare but potentially life-threatening complications. A systematic review of the literature demonstrated that all patients with traumatic tracheal rupture after endotracheal intubation could be adequately ventilated despite tracheal perforation. We report an unusual case of tracheal perforation in which the patient could not be effectively ventilated because of the creation of a false passage caused by the endotracheal tube adjacent to the posterior wall of the trachea.     

MDCT of the central airways: comparison with bronchoscopy in the evaluation of complications of endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) compared with bronchoscopy in the assessment of airway complications related to endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review was performed of all consecutive patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy for symptomatic complications of endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes during an 18-month period. MDCT imaging was performed according to a standard protocol and interpreted by an experienced thoracic radiologist before bronchoscopy. After bronchoscopy by an experienced interventional pulmonologist, CT and bronchoscopic findings were reviewed jointly, and the accuracy of CT was determined using bronchoscopy as the "gold standard." RESULTS: The study population was comprised of 32 patients (range: 26 to 88 y, mean 55.6) with a total of 47 airway complications: tracheal stenosis (n=25), tracheomalacia (n=8), tracheal granulation tissue (n=8), tracheal cartilage fracture (n=4), tracheal perforation (n=1), and tracheostomy tube disruption (n=1). CT accurately diagnosed 42 of 47 airway complications (sensitivity 89.4%, specificity 95.2%, positive predictive value 85.7%, negative predictive value 96.5%). False negative findings at CT occurred in 5 (11.1%) of 47 cases. Contributing technical factors were identified in 3 (60.0%) of 5 false-negative cases, including the presence of tracheostomy tube during imaging and patient inability to complete the CT protocol. CONCLUSIONS: MDCT of the central airways is highly accurate for detecting symptomatic airway complications of endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, particularly when technical limitations to the performance of CT are minimized.     

机械通气时气管套管致气管食管瘘的原因分析和预防措施探讨

目的探讨机械通气患者气管切开套管引起气管食管瘘的原因及其预防措施。方法结合5例气管切开套管导致气管食管瘘的机械通气患者临床资料和相关文献复习,详细分析其病因和预防措施。结果机械通气患者发生气管食管瘘与气囊压力过高、气囊压迫时间过长、呼吸机管道重力压迫气管后壁、套管不稳定活动增多、气管切开破坏了气管的结构和稳定性等因素有关,预防措施主要是常规监测气囊内压、避免压力过高、妥善固定气管套管、减轻呼吸机管道对气管后壁的压迫、躁动病人适当镇静等。结论加强机械通气患者人工气道与气囊的管理,能最大限度减轻气管内膜机械性损伤,降低气管食管瘘的发生率。     

Massive tracheal necrosis complicating endotracheal intubation

There are significant complications associated with endotracheal intubation. Massive tracheal necrosis secondary to tracheoesophageal space abscess developed in a 71-year-old man during mechanical ventilation. Elevated endotracheal tube cuff pressures, sepsis, hypotension, and other risk factors predispose to this disastrous consequence.     

Tracheal tear and tension pneumothorax complicating bronchoscopy-guided percutaneous tracheostomy

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a frequently conducted procedure in critically ill patients. Bronchoscopic guidance of PDT is generally recommended to minimize the risk of unintentional tracheal injury. We present a case of tracheal tear and tension pneumothorax, a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, during continuously bronchoscopy-guided PDT. Sealing the large tracheal air fistula with the cuff of an endotracheal tube helped bridge time to definitive surgical repair in our patient. Bronchoscopic guidance may minimize, but cannot completely eliminate, the risk of tracheal injury during PDT.     

40例主气道狭窄患者诊治体会

目的 探讨主气道狭窄患者的病因及选择适当的治疗方式.方法 收集吉林大学第二医院40例主气道狭窄患者的病因,并观察其选择不同治疗方式的效果.结果 40例主气道狭窄患者中,总气管肿物15例(37.5％),气管内膜结核11例(27.5％),气管插管及切开后9例(22 5％),气管黏膜炎症3例(7.5％),气管淀粉样变1例(2.5％),食管癌术后放疗1例(2.5％).在治疗方式的选择上,除外保守治疗(19例),选择气管切开9例,球囊扩张6例,T管置入5例,冷冻治疗7例,氩气刀治疗6例.接受气管切开、球囊扩张、T管置入、冷冻治疗及氩气刀治疗的患者呼吸困难等症状均得到明显减轻.结论 气管插管及切开造成主气道狭窄的发病率有所上升.患者通过气管切开可迅速缓解症状,联合介入技术及T管置入术已成为除外外科手术治疗的有效方式.     

Atresia of the trachea following repeated percutaneous dilational tracheotomy

Percutaneous dilational tracheotomy (PDT) and conventional tracheostomy are still competing methods to provide an airway for intensive care patients requiring assisted ventilation. Tracheal stenosis is a late complication for any tracheostomy and long-term intubation. However, late complications in PDT have not been extensively studied. This article is the first to report on total atresia of the subglottic larynx and cervical trachea after PDT. The dimension of the lesion is visualized by three-dimensional reconstructed CT scan. The etiology of this condition is discussed.     

支气管镜下高压球囊气道成形术的临床现状

气道为气体进出的通道,气道发生狭窄可导致一系列的临床症状。气道狭窄的病因很多,在西方发达国家,气道狭窄以气管一支气管肺癌、支气管袖式切除、肺移植、气管插管为主要原因,而在我国气管一支气管肺癌、气管结核、气管切开是导致气道狭窄的主要原因。随着介入性技术的不断发展,支气管镜下高压球囊扩张成形术已经成为治疗气道狭窄,特别是治疗良性气道狭窄的有效办法。本文对气道狭窄的病因及支气管镜下高压球囊扩张成形术治疗良性气道狭窄在临床的应用、适应证及疗效的评价进行如下综述。     

Effect of cuffed endotracheal tubes on tracheal mucous velocity.

The inflated cuffed endotracheal tube produces a significant depression of tracheal mucous velocity in anesthetized dogs after one hour. This effect occurs with bot low and high compliance cuffs but is not observed with an uncuffed tube. This phenomenon is another factor that must be considered in establishing criteria for the frequency of cuff deflation in patients supported by mechanical ventilators.     

Tracheostomy tube ignition during microlaryngeal surgery using diode laser: a case report

Ignition of the tracheal tube during laser microlaryngeal surgery under general anesthesia is an uncommon complication with potentially serious consequences. We present here a case of a patient with glottic stenosis following endotracheal intubation, who experienced this potentially catastrophic combustion during endoscopic arytenoidectomy, using a diode laser under general anesthesia via 60% FiO2, with an airway fire occurring at the tracheostomy tube and causing tubal damage and obstruction. The anesthetic connecting tube was immediately disconnected and the tracheostomy tube replaced. No adverse consequences to this patient's upper airway were noted during follow-up visits. Higher oxygen concentrations, the presence of combustibles, and the narrowness of the surgical field during endolaryngeal diode laser surgery are risk factors for airway fires.     

Automatic regulation of the cuff pressure in endotracheally-intubated patients.

To avoid tracheal wall damage or inadvertent falls of the endotracheal tube cuff pressure (Pcuff) in intubated and mechanically-ventilated patients, the authors devised a simple procedure for automatic and continuous regulation of Pcuff. The procedure, only requiring a simple aquarium air pump and conventional tubing, was first tested at the bench when applied to an intubated and ventilated lung model, including an artificial trachea with an externally-variable section. The clinical performance of the procedure was tested in eight intubated patients, in whom the endotracheal tube cuff was connected to the designed Pcuff regulator during 24 h. The bench test showed that the procedure was able to maintain Pcuff constant, regardless of the changes imposed in the tracheal section. It was also effective in maintaining Pcuff during routine mechanical ventilation. Actual Pcuff recorded over the 24-h period always coincided with the target value within +/-2 cmH2O in all the patients. The procedure devised to maintain endotracheal tube cuff pressure is readily implemented, cheap, easy to operate and can be used regardless of the specific ventilator or tube used. Routine implementation of this procedure may be useful for protecting the trachea from tissue damage and for reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.     

Anaesthetic management of acquired non malignant tracheo-oesophageal fistula

Acquired non malignant tracheo-oesophageal fistula is an uncommon complication of endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy. Patients are usually diagnosed while on mechanical ventilation. The rationale of management is to prevent pulmonary contamination, maintain nutrition and achieve spontaneous ventilation prior to surgical repair. Cautious management of the airway is required during tracheal reconstruction. We present a case of non malignant tracheo-oesophageal fistula in which repair was achieved by primary closure of the tracheal and oesophageal defects.     

Wound care management: tracheostomy and gastrostomy

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placements are routine procedures performed in the intensive care units (ICUs). They are performed to facilitate care and promote healing. They also help prevent complications from prolonged endotracheal intubation and malnutrition. In most cases, both are performed simultaneously. Physicians performing them require knowledge of local anatomy, tissue and vascular relationships, along with advance bronchoscopy and endoscopy skills. Although PDTs and PEGs are considered relatively low-risk procedures, operators need to have the knowledge and skill to recognize and prevent adverse outcomes. Current published literature on post-procedural care and stoma wound management was reviewed. Available recommendations for the routine care of tracheostomy and PEG tubes are included in this review. Signs and symptoms of early PDT- and PEG-related complications and their management are discussed in detail. These include hemorrhage, infection, accidental decannulation, tube obstruction, clogging, and dislodgement. Rare, life-threatening complications are also discussed. Multidisciplinary teams are needed for improved patient care, and members should be aware of all pertinent care aspects and potential complications related to PDT and PEG placement. Each institute is strongly encouraged to have detailed protocols to standardize care. This review provides a state-of-the-art guidance on the care of patients with tracheostomies and gastrostomies specifically in the ICU setting.     

Group C streptococcal endocarditis associated with intubation-induced tracheal stenosis

We describe a 44-year-old woman with Group C haemolytic streptococcal endocarditis who developed tracheal stenosis as a result of endotracheal intubation. She recovered fully following valve replacement for continuing left ventricular failure due to mitral and aortic incompetence and subsequent resection of the stenosed tracheal segment with reanastomosis of the trachea.     

Upper airway obstruction following adult respiratory distress syndrome. An analysis of 30 survivors

To evaluate the effects of current supportive care measures for the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) upon the upper airway, we studied 30 survivors of ARDS. All patients were interviewed and examined and performed inspiratory and expiratory maximal flow-volume curves more than six months after the onset of ARDS. Three women had developed symptomatic upper airway obstruction due to laryngotracheal stenosis 4 to 12 months after discharge from the hospital. Potential etiologic factors included difficult orotracheal intubation (one) and high tracheal cuff pressures (one). The three survivors who developed laryngotracheal stenoses did not differ from the 27 survivors of ARDS without symptomatic upper airway obstruction with respect to age, duration of tracheal intubation, or maximum level of positive end-expiratory pressure. Each patient with upper airway obstruction required more than one operation for laryngotracheal reconstruction. Although corrective surgery improved airflow, two survivors of ARDS had upper airway obstruction and exertional dyspnea more than five years after the ARDS. We conclude that upper airway obstruction is an important cause of dyspnea and impairment following ARDS. Exertional dyspnea weeks to months following treatment for ARDS suggests the possibility of laryngotracheal stenosis.     

Regulation of airway smooth muscle tone in sleeping dogs.

We examined the influence of sleep state on airway smooth muscle tone in 4 unanesthetized dogs that were trained to sleep in the laboratory. The dogs had been prepared with a permanent side-hole tracheostomy and bilateral cervical vagal loops. During the studies, the dogs breathed through a cuffed endotracheal tube inserted through the tracheostomy. To monitor changes in tracheal smooth muscle tone, we measured the pressure in the water-filled cuff of the endotracheal tube. The technique was validated by examining changes in cuff pressure after administration to the dogs of a series of chemical agents and physiologic stimuli known to constrict or relax tracheobronchial smooth muscle. Sleep state of the dogs was determined by behavioral, electroencephalographic, and electromyographic criteria. During quiet wakefulness, tracheal smooth muscle tone was stable. With the onset and progression of sleep through the nonrapid-eye movement stages, airway smooth muscle tone relaxed (decrease in cuff pressure of 20 to 40 cm H2O), reaching a new steady level during slow-wave sleep. In contrast, during rapid-eye-movement sleep, tracheal smooth muscle tone fluctuated markedly and erratically, as reflected by changes in cuff pressure as large as 90 cm H2O. Partial blockade of the vagus nerves, by cooling the exteriorized cervical vagal loops, decreased or abolished the fluctuations in tracheal smooth muscle tone during rapid-eye-movement sleep at temperatures that did not abolish resting tone, demonstrating that the changes in tone during rapid-eye-movement sleep were related to variability in neural control of airway smooth muscle.