Tracheal crusting: A rare but fatal complication of Endotracheal Intubation

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation is an intervention frequently performed in the hospital setting in order to protect the central airway and provide mechanical support for ventilation. The complications of the endotracheal tube include tracheitis, tracheal stenosis, tracheomalacia, and granuloma formation. Tracheal crusting following tracheitis is a very rare but fatal complication of endotracheal intubation especially in children. Tracheal crusting should be kept in mind as a differential for weaning failure. Several cases of tracheal stenosis after extubation have been reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no cases of obstructive tracheal crusting in children following tracheitis in the current literature. Here, we present the case of a 1-year-old girl who developed complications as a result of intubation.