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Case Reports
. 2019 Aug;98(31):e16678.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016678.

The consequence of endotracheal intubation in a 95-years old man for 839 days: A case report

Yan-Mei Feng  1 , Dong Wan  2 , Rui Guo  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

The consequence of endotracheal intubation in a 95-years old man for 839 days: A case report

Yan-Mei Feng et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Rationale: The benefits of prolonged endotracheal intubation (ETI) in comparison to early tracheotomy is still over the controversy. Little information is available in concern to prolonged ETI more than years. We report the consequence of oral ETI in a 95-year old man for 839 days.

Patient concerns: This patient was transferred to the intensive care unit due to sputum asphyxia and respiratory arrest. Timely ETI was performed. However, as a neurological insult, extubation had a high risk of failure due to the insufficient ability of sputum clearance. In addition, his family members refused further surgical interventions including tracheotomy.

Diagnoses: Prolonged ETI occurred in this patient. On day 240 and 329 after ETI, 3D airway image did not reveal laryngeal stenosis or laryngeal lesions. On day 459 and 662, ET tube (ETT) exchanged was performed and the balloon became stiff and inelasticity.

Interventions: Although a possible tracheoesophageal fistula was suspected by imaging findings on day 547, the gastroscopy did not reveal the fistula on the esophagus. Enteral nutrition was delivered through the gastric tube, while the mediastinal infection was not observed during subsequent follow-up of computed tomography.

Outcomes: He received tracheostomy due to acute sputum obstruction within ETT and abrupt oxygen desaturation on day 839.

Lessons: During prolonged ETI, more attention should focus on airway humidification, proper cuff pressure and optimal time for tube exchange in order to avoid severe complications.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Three dimensional computed tomography reconstruction of the airway on day 240 (A) and day 329 (B) after ETI.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Endotracheal tube retained in the airway for 459 days.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The computed tomography examination on day 547 after ETI. The arrow head indicated that there was a possible fistula between the anterior wall of the upper esophagus and the posterior wall of the trachea.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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