Emergency management of torrential bleeding from a tracheostomy

What is it about?

This case describes a case of massive haemorrhage via a tracheostomy tube that had eroded into a major artery. This rare complication is almost universally fatal without prompt identification and management. In this case, temporary control of the bleeding was achieved by placing a urinary catheter into the upper airway and inflating the balloon.

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Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash

Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This case report may help clinicians to have a prepared management plan for this rare medical crisis, and may improve patients' chance of survival.