title: [Brachiocephalic trunk erosion by a tracheotomy cannula].
abstract: We report the case of a 27-year-old severe head trauma patient who developed an erosion of the brachiocephalic artery, 19 days after the insertion of a tracheal cannula. Emergency treatment included overinflation of the tracheostomy cuff and surgery via sternotomy, with occlusion of the tracheostomy and the tracheo-arterial fistula and reimplantation of the brachiocephalic artery via a vascular prosthesis. This life-threatening complication is due to close anatomic relationships between the trachea and the brachiocephalic artery. In our case, the tip of the cannula eroded the anterior trachea wall resulting in a tracheo-arterial fistula with massive haemorrhage. Warning symptoms such as pulsations of the cannula and aspiration of blood must be recognised without delay and followed by an adequate pre-established management.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016638:Critical Illness; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
vernacular_title: Ulcération du tronc brachio-céphalique par une canule de trachéotomie.