Percutaneous tracheostomy is a relatively safe bedside alternative to surgical tracheostomy. However, there are significant risks and complications, such as pneumothorax. This case report describes what is believed to be the first example of bilateral tension pneumothorax secondary to percutaneous tracheostomy insertion which occurred despite bronchoscopic guidance.
Díaz-RegañónGMiñambresERuizA. Safety and complications of percutaneous tracheostomy in a cohort of 800 mixed ICU patients. Anaesthesia2008;63: 1198–203.
2.
TokurMKürkçüogluICKurulC. Synchronous bilateral pneumothorax as a complication of tracheostomy. Turkish Resp J2006;7: 84–85.
3.
SheldonCHPudenzRHFreshwaterDB. A new method for tracheostomy. J Neurosurg1955;12: 428–31.
4.
CiagliaPFirschingRSyniecC. Elective percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A new simple bedside procedure - preliminary report. Chest1985; 87: 715–19.
ByhahnCLischkeVHalbigS. Ciaglia blue rhino: A modified technique for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy - technique and early clinical results. Anaesthetist2000;49: 202–06.
7.
FikkersBGvan-VeenJAKooloosJG. Emphysema and pneumothorax after percutaneous tracheostomy: case reports and an anatomic study. Chest2004;125: 1805–14.
8.
KearneyPAGriffenMMOchoaJB. A single-center 8-year experience with percutaneous tracheostomy. Ann Surg2000;231: 701–09.
9.
FriedmanYMayerAD. Bedside percutaneous tracheostomy in critically ill patients. Chest1993;104: 532–35.
10.
IvaturyRSiegelJHStahlWM. Percutaneous tracheostomy after trauma and critical illness. J Trauma1992;32: 133–40.
11.
WalzMKPeitgenKThuranfN. Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: early results and long-term outcome of 326 critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med1998;24: 685–90.
12.
MoeKSStoeckliSJSchmidS. Percutaneous tracheostomy: a comprehensive evaluation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1999;108: 384–91.
13.
HameedAAMohamedHAl-AnsariM. Experience with 224 percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies at an adult intensive care unit in Bahrain: A descriptive study. Ann Thorac Med2008;3: 18–22.
14.
KumarVMGrantCAHughesMW. Role of routine chest radiography after percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. Br J Anaesth2008;100: 663–66.
