title: A rare case of fatal haemorrhage after tracheostomy.
abstract: Tracheo-arterial fistula after tracheostomy causing massive haemorrhage is fortunately rare, but can be serious and often fatal. Brachiocephalic trunk is commonly at risk of erosion because of its close relation with the trachea. Factors responsible for fistula are pressure from tube rubbing on the trachea and adjacent vessel, infection, malignant neoplastic invasion of a vessel near the trachea and low tracheostomy. We present a rare case of massive arterial bleeding which happened on the second day and recurred on fifth day, because of slippage of the ligature from the thyroid artery, causing aspiration and death. A low tracheostomy below the third ring should be avoided. If there is bleeding, as a first-aid measure the cuff should be over inflated without removing the tracheostomy tube.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent, UK. cvpraveen@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Praveen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000098:blood supply*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000209:etiology*