The increasing use of transtracheal procedures by various specialties has caused a rash of new complications which have interested the endoscopist. These complications have resulted from the many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involving the percutaneous puncture of the laryngeal or tracheal air space. The validity of these procedures is not questioned. However, they have spawned a host of diverse and bizarre complications which have led to serious and even fatal problems. The role of the endoscopist as a consultant in both the diagnosis and therapy of these developments must be understood and stressed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
SchwartzSI: Principles of Surgery. St. Louis, McGraw Hill Book Co., 1969, p. 219.
2.
PecoraDV: A method of securing uncontaminated tracheal secretions for bacterial examination. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg37: 653–654, 1957.
3.
ReamsGB: Bronchography through puncture of the cricothyroid membrane. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg40: 117–127, 1960.
4.
SpencerDBeatyH: Complications of transtracheal aspiration. N Engl J Med282: 304–305, 1970.
5.
Letter: Complications of transtracheal aspiration. N Engl J Med289: 1094, 1973.
6.
AdrianiJ: Complications following transtracheal anesthesia. Am J Surg84: 11–12, 1952.
7.
WilsonJ: Cricothyroid bronchography with a polyethylene catheter. Am J Roentgenol81: 305–311, 1959.
8.
RadiganLRKingRD: A technique for the prevention of post operative atelectasis. Surgery47: 184–187, 1960.
