title: Tracheo-innominate artery fistula after tracheostomy--a case report.
abstract: Tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) is a rare but fatal complication after tracheostomy. There are no reports of survival without surgical intervention. We report a patient with an undiagnosed TIF who suffered massive bleeding from tracheostomy when we replaced the tracheostomy tube with an oral endotracheal tube. We emphasize the importance of keeping a high suspicion toward a possible TIF in any patient with bleeding from the tracheostomy site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan, ROC. lkdchsw@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kuan-Ta
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shu-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mow Cheong
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ting
mesh_terms: D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*