Complications of long tracheostomy tubes.
Complications of long tracheostomy tubes are not generally appreciated. We report three cases which illustrate that long tracheostomy tubes may impinge on the carina or, less commonly, intubate the right main-stem bronchus, with resultant atelectasis of the left lung. Since larger diameter tracheostomy tubes are also longer, they are much more likely than narrow tracheostomy tubes to produce this complication. The tracheostomy tube position should be checked frequently, especially in patients who develop atelectasis and pneumonia of the left lung.
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*