Unusual removal of a fractured tracheostomy tube retained in the right bronchus for more than one year: a case report

Abstract

Tracheostomy tube fracture and aspiration in the lower airway is a rare and late complication. The tracheobronchial foreign body must be diagnosed and removed early to prevent life-threatening complications. Therapeutic bronchoscopic removal is the mainstay of treatment. We report a case of a 51-year-old male patient who was
tracheostomized five years ago for an extended glottic carcinoma. He presented with a persisting cough after fracture and aspiration of his tracheostomy tube one year before. There was no respiratory distress or hemodynamic disorder. The chest X-ray showed a metal tube lodged in the right main bronchus. Removal was performed with a rigid pediatric esophagoscope through the tracheostomy stoma without any complication. The authors highlight the need for proper tracheostomy tube care to reduce accidental complications and present an alternative method for extracting those foreign bodies in settings where bronchoscopy is unavailable.