Tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF) is a rare complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation. Undiagnosed TOF during tracheostomy poses a risk of improper placement of tracheostomy tube and can lead to a potentially life-threatening situation. We report a case of an undiagnosed tracheoesophageal fistula during tracheostomy in a lady in which we encountered difficulty in placement of tracheostomy tube and were eventually able to cannulate the trachea with the help of a fibre optic bronchoscope.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Bong et al. (2019) studied this question.