title: Retained sutures in the trachea.
abstract: A 57-year-old man was evaluated for mucosal irregularity involving the anterior tracheal wall detected on a routine chest computed tomography scan performed for lung transplant evaluation. He had a history of hypercapneic respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy, yet he had been successfully decannulated several months before presentation. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed retained suture material at the earlier tracheostomy site, which was successfully clipped and removed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Madan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budev
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machuzak