FATAL HAEMORRHAGE FROM THE INNOMINATE ARTERY AFTER TRACHEOSTOMY

Abstract
A case of fatal haemorrhage from the innominate artery occurred a week after tracheostomy was performed. Control of the bleeding was tried unsuccessfully by hyperinflation of the cuff of the tracheostomy tube. The mechanism is erosion of the artery by the inferior border of the tracheostomy tube. Since the treatment of massive haemorrhage from the innominate artery is extremely difficult, the avoidance of low tracheostomies and the use of short and properly curved tracheostomy tubes may be effective in prevention of this fatal complication.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: