Korean J Crit Care Med.  2014 Feb;29(1):32-37. 10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.1.32.

Total Unilateral Obstruction by Sputum Immediately after Tracheal Bougienage

• Kim K
• Jun J
• Jeong M
• Choi S
• Lee Y

• KMID: 2227801
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.1.32

Abstract

A 25-year-old man developed tracheal stenosis due to prolonged intubation for five days. Immediately after bougienage, his left lung was not possible to ventilate and emergency tracheostomy was performed to produce ample space for airflow. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed that his left main bronchus was totally obstructed by sputum at the entrance of the superior and inferior lobar bronchi. Inadequate airway clearance increases the risk of infection and airway obstruction. We suggest chest physiotherapy be applied to all patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially patients with tracheal stenosis, due to its positive impact on pulmonary functional ability and ICU stay.

Keyword

airway obstruction; tracheal stenosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Airway Obstruction
Bronchi
Bronchoscopy
Emergencies
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Intubation
Lung
Sputum*
Thorax
Tracheal Stenosis
Tracheostomy