title: Acute fatal haemorrhage during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
abstract: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is associated with a number of life-threatening complications. We present a case of massive and fatal arterial haemorrhage that occurred in the intensive care unit during an elective PDT on an 86-year-old woman following earlier evacuation of a traumatic subdural haematoma. An avulsed right subclavian artery was found at post mortem. Previous thyroid surgery and aberrant arterial anatomy contributed to the fatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-intensive Care Unit, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HE, UK. david.shlugman@orh.nhs.uk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shlugman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Satya-Krishna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020202:Cerebral Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000293:injuries*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*