Cervical osteomyelitis after percutaneous transtracheal ventilation and tracheotomy.
BACKGROUND
Percutaneous transtracheal ventilation has proven useful in emergent airway management.


METHODS
A report of a case is presented. Results. A 42-year-old woman who developed laryngospasm required emergency airway intervention She developed massive subcutaneous emphysema and required emergent cricothyroidotomy which was immediately converted to a tracheotomy. Although she was quickly decanulated, she developed late cervical osteomyelitis which resolved with intravenous antibiotic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Cervical osteomyelitis has not been previously reported as a complication of percutaneous transtracheal ventilation or tracheotomy Contamination of the deep neck spaces facilitated by pressure dissection of the fascial planes may have led to this complication.
Newlands
S D
SD
Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.
Makielski
K H
KH
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents