title: Fractured tracheostomy tube as foreign body bronchus: our experience with three cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tracheostomy tubes are extensively used in paediatric age group for airway issues. Their fracture and lodgement into trachea is an acute emergency requiring urgent intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report three such paediatric cases having tracheostomy tube fracture and aspiration into trachea with different presentations and treatment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient was successfully managed with bronchoscopy and fractured tube removal. One patient succumbed to asphyxia before any intervention. The third patient was having supratubal tracheal stenosis making things more dangerous, but was managed successfully by tracheoscopy through tracheostomy opening with removal of fractured tube.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate identification is the key to successful management of this rare but life threatening situation. In the presence of tracheal stenosis above the tracheostomy opening, situation becomes more dangerous with very limited options for management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong 793018, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Zareen Aliiana
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Lynrah
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Nari Mary
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lyngdoh
authors.forename: Neizekhotuo Brian
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Shunyu
authors.forename: Binayak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baruah
authors.forename: Rashna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dass
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.forename: Prithwis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
mesh_terms: D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000150:complications; D014132:Trachea; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*