Obstructive fibrinous pseudomembrane tracheitis after double-lumen tube intubation-a case report

Background: Obstructive fibrinous pseudomembrane tracheitis (OFPT) is a rare compli-cation of endotracheal intubation. Case: We describe the case of a 73-year-old woman who underwent short-term intubation for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and developed an acute life-threatening stridor two days after extubation. The patient required an emergency tracheostomy to maintain airway patency and a microscopic direct laryngoscopy procedure was performed thereaf-ter with removal of the obstructive pseudomembrane. Subsequently, the patient also suf-fered a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The patient successfully recovered, and the tracheostomy was subsequently decannulated two months later. Histological examina-tion revealed mucosal ulcerations and inflammatory changes. Conclusions: OFPT is an uncommon cause of life-threatening airway obstruction after extubation that is not often recognized immediately but can usually be treated with early bronchoscopic intervention or microscopic direct laryngoscopy.

Automated summary

OFPT is a rare but life-threatening airway obstruction after endotracheal intubation, which can be treated with early intervention or examination.