Emergency airway management of tracheo-innominate fistulas in the pediatric population

Abstract

Tracheo-innominate fistula (TIF) is a rare but well recognized complication of tracheostomy placement, and it is universally fatal in the absence of surgical management. Adult algorithms for TIF management do not address the unique dilemmas that exist in the pediatric population with respect to uncuffed tracheostomy tubes (TT). We present a case that highlights the need to modify the adult algorithm when applying it in children. Parental informed consent has been obtained for publication of the following case. A seven-year-old 25 kg encephalopathic ventilatordependent patient with a 4.0 uncuffed TT presented with emergency tracheostomy bleeding, which resulted in an inability to ventilate and subsequent loss of airway. The attending anesthesiologist was summoned immediately to the patient’s bedside and elected to secure the airway by placing a 4.0 cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) through the tracheostomy stoma. Profuse bleeding ensued within an hour, and the patient was transported immediately to the operating room for further management. The patient was tachycardic and hypertensive, with 95% oxygen saturation on 100% O2 and unobtainable end-tidal CO2 due to copious blood in the sampling line. An earnose-and-throat (ENT) surgeon performed rigid bronchoscopy, confirming the diagnosis of TIF, and partially blocked the bleeding fistula by applying anterior pressure against the sternum. With hyperinflation of the cuff of the ETT and application of direct pressure with the rigid bronchoscope, the bleeding decreased so central venous and arterial accesses could be secured. A sternotomy was then performed, allowing identification and resection of a 0.5 cm TIF. Postoperatively, the ETT was sutured in place via the tracheostomy stoma and replaced by an uncuffed TT on postoperative day nine. The patient was discharged home at baseline condition a few days later. Previous reports have typically described the existing adult management algorithm being completely appropriate in pediatric patients with a cuffed TT who were older than age ten. The adult algorithm involves TT cuff hyperinflation distal to the fistula. If hyperinflation proves unsuccessful, digital compression of the innominate artery against the sternum via the tracheostomy stoma should be attempted. This maneuver has been reported as being successful in up to 90% of cases. It is important to recognize that the paucity of prior pediatric reports may be attributed to the primary utilization of uncuffed TT and the rarity of TIF in the pediatric population younger than age eight. This is highlighted by the longstanding recommendation in major pediatric textbooks to place an uncuffed ETT in all patients younger than age eight. With increased cuffed TT utilization, one might posit that this pediatric complication may become more prevalent in the future. Therefore, despite the current rarity of pediatric TIF in patients with an uncuffed TT, we feel that this alternate algorithm may be critical to the survival of future patients. There are several major distinctions between the adult algorithm and our proposed algorithm for emergency management of pediatric patients with uncuffed trachestomies (Figure). Cuff hyperinflation, recommended as the first step in most adult algorithms, is an obvious impossibility in most pediatric patients with an uncuffed TT. Additionally, the small pediatric airway does not allow for the next step of digital compression through the stoma, as J. B. Tuchman, MD (&) M. Concetta Lupa, MD E. H. Jooste, MB, ChB Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA e-mail: tuchmanj@upmc.edu