title: To breathe or not to breathe: a review of artificial airway placement and related complications.
abstract: Artificial airway devices are commonly used to provide adequate ventilation and/or oxygenation in multiple clinical settings, both emergent and nonemergent. These frequently used devices include laryngeal mask airway, esophageal-tracheal combitube, endotracheal tube, and tracheostomy tube and are associated with various acute and late complications. Clinically, this may vary from mild discomfort to a potentially life-threatening situation. Radiologically, these devices and their acute and late complications have characteristic imaging findings which can be detected primarily on radiographs and computed tomography. We review appropriate positioning of these artificial airway devices and illustrate associated complications including inadequate positioning of the endotracheal tube, pulmonary aspiration, tracheal laceration or perforation, paranasal sinusitis, vocal cord paralysis, post-intubation tracheal stenosis, cuff overinflation with vascular compression, and others. Radiologists must recognize and understand the potential complications of intubation to promptly guide management and avoid long-term or even deadly consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 2 Tampa Circle Dr. STC 7035, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA, jdonatel@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donatelli
authors.forename: Ayushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santhosh
authors.forename: Todd R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Hazelton
authors.forename: Leelakrishna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nallamshetty
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rojas
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*