Patel, M.R., Cannon, T.Y. and Shores, C.G. (2011) Chapter 242. Complication of Airway Devices. In: Tintinalli, J.E., Stapczynski, J.S., Ma, O.J., Cline, D.M., Cydulka, R.K., Meckler, G.D., Eds., Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 7th Edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies, New York, 1594-1595.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: A Fatal Arterio-Tracheal Fistula Post-Tracheostomy: A Case Report in a Sub-Saharan Setting

  AUTHORS: Yannick Mossus, Douglas Banga Nkomo, Serge Rowling’s Ngouatna, Lutresse Thome, Roger Christian Meva’a Biouélé, Leonel Christophe Atanga, Adèle-Rose Ngo Nyeki, David Mindja Eko, François Djomou, Alexis Ndjolo

  KEYWORDS: Arterio-Tracheal Fistula, Innominate Artery, Tracheostomy, Sub-Saharan Setting, Case Report

  JOURNAL NAME: International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Vol.11 No.5, September 28, 2022

  ABSTRACT: Fatal bleeding in patients with tracheostomy is an uncommon incident, in the order of 0.1% to 1% of cases. It is secondary in 70% of cases to the innominate artery fistula in the tracheal lumen. The fistula is generally created after the necrosis of tracheal rings. The incriminated factors are the type of cannula used, the site of tracheal opening below the 3rd tracheal ring, tracheal infections and the proximity of the innominate artery to the tracheal axis. The outcome of this incident is fatal in most cases. We report the case of a 59-year-old patient with a tracheostomy on the 11th day of his admission to intensive care for severe head trauma secondary to a road accident. On the 22nd day of his admission, the occurrence of a cataclysmic and fatal haemorrhage through the tracheostomy tube evoked an arterio-tracheal fistula of the innominate artery.