Tracheo-innominate fistula after initial percutaneous tracheostomy

Abstract

We report a tracheo-innominate fistula formation after tracheostomy in a 68-year-old man with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The initial percutaneous tracheostomy had to be revised surgically after the tube dislodged from its insertion site in the trachea. Three days later, massive bleeding occurred and emergency surgery revealed a fistula. This was surgically repaired but subsequently re-bled with a fatal outcome. The post mortem report found an aneurysmal ectatic innominate artery with a fistula involving the anterior tracheal wall. The aetiology, diagnosis and management of tracheo-innominate fistula are discussed.