title: Successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a morbidly obese patient with airway obstruction 10 days after tracheostomy.
abstract: Tracheostomy is often performed in patients requiring prolonged ventilatory support. Tracheostomy tube obstruction caused either by blood clots, mucous plugs, tube malposition and tissue granulation can lead to life-threatening complications. The risk of such complications is markedly increased in morbidly obese individuals. Here we report an incident in an 81-year-old, morbidly obese, male patient who sustained airway obstruction which resulted in cardiac arrest 10 days after tracheostomy. A 17-cm 10-ng blood clot in a tracheobronchial configuration was found to cause the obstruction. It was removed and the patient recovered after resuscitation. The etiology of the obstruction, specific management, and recommendations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anesthesiology, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Shun-Tsung
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chang-Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Jen-Chih
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Tang
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chin-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chih-Shung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Chun-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*