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Tracheal necrosis as a fatal complication of endotracheal intubation
Author(s) -
Wylie C. E.,
Foote A. K.,
Rasotto R.,
Cameron I. J.,
Greet T. R. C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12276
Subject(s) - medicine , granulation tissue , complication , surgery , tracheitis , intubation , necrosis , stenosis , anesthesia , tracheal stenosis , lesion , larynx , tracheal intubation , pathology , airway , radiology , wound healing , bronchitis
Summary This case report describes the death of a yearling T horoughbred colt due to segmental severe necrotising tracheitis with stenosis of the tracheal lumen, 19 days after endotracheal intubation for elective endoscopic surgery. The stenosis of the trachea leading to asphyxiation was caused by an inflammatory process accompanied by massive accumulation of necrotic material, fibrinous inflammatory exudate, oedema and granulation tissue. The cause of this inflammation was likely to be a bacterial infection secondary to traumatic damage of the tracheal mucosa. Given the clinical history and location of the lesion, the endotracheal tube used for general anaesthesia was hypothesised to be responsible for this damage. Delayed tracheal necrosis as a fatal complication of endotracheal intubation has not previously been described in the horse and should be considered as a potential catastrophic consequence following relatively innocuous clinical signs.