ABSTRACT

Tracheal rupture, a rare complication of intubations, has a high mortality rate. Depending on the localization and severity of the injury, after the intubation, both in the early and the late period, tracheal rupture may cause of complaints. The patient, who had been operated because of gonarthrosis in a different center, developed respiratory depression and subcutaneous emphysema on his neck after one hour following the extubation. Then, fiber optics bronchoscopy was applied to the patient. About 7-8 cm rupture, laying down on the 1.5 cm proximity of secondary carina of the right main bronchi, on the external wall of the trachea was seen. The patient was sent to our emergency department. We consultated with thoracic surgery and operation was decided.

Although, after intubation, damage to the tracheo -bronchial tree is more often seen during anesthesia and in intensive care units, it may also occur in emergency units. So that we aim to discuss what are be done to prevent injury, to diagnose, and to treat with conservative or surgery methods.

Keywords: shortness of breath, subcutaneous emphysema, tracheal rupture, guide wire