The American journal of emergency medicine
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Review Case Reports
Tracheal rupture complicating emergent endotracheal intubation.
Tracheal rupture is rare in clinical practice. We present 2 female patients with tracheal rupture after emergent endotracheal intubation from different injury mechanisms; penetrating injury of using stylet during intubation in one case and overinflation of cuff of the endotracheal tube under rapid sequence intubation in another. ⋯ In our report, reconstructive 3-dimensional computed tomography scrupulously detected the rupture sites and provided the noninvasive modality for diagnosis. We review the literature of tracheal rupture after emergent endotracheal intubation in respects of the diagnosis, the possible mechanisms of the injury, and suggest strategies of management.