Tracheostomy Emergencies

Laura J Bontempo; Sara L Manning

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.010

Tracheostomy Emergencies

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2019 Feb;37(1):109-119. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.010.

Authors

Laura J Bontempo¹, Sara L Manning²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: lbontempo@som.umaryland.edu.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

PMID: 30454773
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.010

Abstract

Tracheostomy is a common procedure for long-term airway management. Although the overall complication rate is greater than 50%, the incidence of serious complications is low. These serious complications can, however, lead to significant morbidity and mortality and it is incumbent on the emergency provider to be prepared to deal with such tracheostomy-related emergencies. The greatest life threats to the tracheostomy patient are decannulation, obstruction, and hemorrhage. Other important but lower-acuity complications include tracheoesophageal fistula formation, tracheal stenosis, infection, and tracheocutaneous fistula formation.

Keywords: Airway; Decannulation; Obstruction; Tracheal stenosis; Tracheoinnominate artery fistula; Tracheostomy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Emergencies*
Humans
Oral Hemorrhage / etiology
Oral Hemorrhage / therapy
Tracheostomy* / adverse effects
Tracheostomy* / methods