title: Conservative treatment of severe tracheal laceration after endotracheal intubation.
abstract: Endotracheal intubation can lead to iatrogenic trauma to the upper airways. Superficial mucosal tears in the mouth, pharynx, or larynx are common and can cause secondary infection and acute respiratory distress due to massive air leak. We report a patient who sustained a severe 5-cm tracheal laceration and subcutaneous emphysema after intubation. She was successfully weaned from the ventilator after adjustment of the endotracheal cuff, therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and continuous airway humidification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shih-Lung
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shih-Chieh
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D022125:Lacerations / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*; D015300:Ventilator Weaning
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents