Article

An unusual conduit for a paediatric tracheostomy tube exchange

Published in: Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Volume 21 , issue 3 , 2015 , pages: 88–90

DOI: 10.1080/22201181.2015.1056503

Author(s): BS Küsel Anaesthesia Registrar, South Africa , RE Hodgson Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa and Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, South Africa

Keywords: airway management , anaesthesia , exchange catheters , paediatric tracheostomy , tracheostomy tube exchange

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Abstract

This case report demonstrates the challenges of the paediatric airway, and useful, practical solutions in the management of tracheostomies in children. A six-year-old child underwent a tracheostomy, where an inappropriately large tracheostomy tube was inserted. The choice was guided by the internal diameter (ID) of the tracheostomy tube (TT) rather than the external diameter of the TT (which is much larger than the external diameter (ED) of an endotracheal tube (ETT)). The reduced diameter of the paediatric airway led to complications following the tracheostomy insertion.

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