A Case of A Fractured Fragment of Tracheostomy Tube Entering the Left Bronchus: A Case Report

Tracheostomy is one of the most common surgeries in patients with upper airway defects. Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure to open a side passage through the neck into the trachea to stabilize the airway. The complications of this operation are very important, common and at the same time preventable. The purpose of this article is to report a case of a fractured fragment of tracheostomy tube entering the left bronchus.

 The patient was a 34-year-old man diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and quadriplegia, who has had a tracheostomy tube for 7 years, who referred with complaint of shortness of breath following a tracheostomy tube fracture. The patient had 60% saturation and significant respiratory distress. After confirming the fracture of the tracheostomy tube with a CT scan of the lung, the fractured fragment was removed with rigid bronchoscopy and the tracheostomy tube was re-inserted for the patient. The patient was discharged from the hospital two days after tracheostomy.

In case of shortness of breath and decreased saturation, tracheostomy tube fracture should be considered. Proper cleaning and planned replacement of the tracheostomy tube may prevent this complication.