title: Tracheal perforation. A complication associated with transtracheal oxygen therapy.
abstract: A 73-year-old woman with a transtracheal oxygen catheter in place developed sudden onset of respiratory distress and subcutaneous emphysema. Bronchoscopy revealed the presence of three posterior tracheal wall perforations and a blind pouch arising from one of the perforations. Subsequent bronchoscopies revealed complete healing of the perforations. We believe that these perforations occurred during placement of the transtracheal catheter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Carlin
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*