Bronchial complication of a closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery Vol. 37; no. 10; pp. 1483 - 1484
• Main Authors: García-Aparicio, Luis, Castañón, Monserrat, Tarrado, Xavier, Rodríguez, Lucia, Iriondo, Martí, Morales, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Elsevier Inc 01-10-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bronchi - surgery; bronchoscopy; Catheterization - adverse effects; endotracheal suction catheter; Female; Foreign Bodies - etiology; Foreign Bodies - surgery; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intubation, Intratracheal - adverse effects; Intubation, Intratracheal - instrumentation; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Pneumothorax; Pneumothorax - etiology; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Suction - adverse effects; Suction - instrumentation; Pneumothorax; endotracheal suction catheter; bronchoscopy; Human; Bronchoscopy; Radiodiagnosis; Secretion; Rupture; Bronchus; Shrinkage; Case study; Radiography; Newborn; Treatment; Draft tube; Medical imagery; Complication; Female; Foreign body; Computerized axial tomography; Endoscopy; Diagnosis; Intubation; High frequency; Mechanical ventilation
• ISSN: 0022-3468; 1531-5037
• DOI: 10.1053/jpsu.2002.35422

Iatrogenic bronchial complications in intubated premature infants are rare. The authors present one case of rupture of a closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter. Clinical presentation was a persistent pneumothorax that required chest tube placement in several days. A foreign body was confirmed in x-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan. Flexible bronchoscopy showed a piece of catheter in the left bronchus and using a rigid bronchoscope was possible to remove. No perforation was found. There are a few reports in the literature of iatrogenic bronchial complication in premature infants caused by closed-tube endotracheal suctioning catheters. Endobronchial rupture of this catheter has never been reported. J Pediatr Surg 37:1483-1484. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.