Nonsurgical Management of Pediatric Tracheal Perforation

Abstract

Tracheal perforation is a rare complication of intubation. In the pediatric population, the rates of morbidity and mortality are high if diagnosis and management are delayed. Recommendations for treatment in these patients are based on the several reports of this injury in the adult and neonate populations. Surgical repair is generally favored over conservative care in the majority of cases. We describe the case of a 10-year-old girl who presented with subcutaneous emphysema after intubation in the emergency department. The patient had a 3-cm injury to the distal trachea. Nonsurgical management resulted in a normal-appearing trachea and a healed perforation site as confirmed by repeat tracheobronchoscopy 4 months after the initial injury. In clinically stable pediatric patients, nonsurgical management of tracheal perforations should be considered.