Tracheal Stent to Repair Tracheal Laceration After a Double-Lumen Intubation

A 59-year-old woman was referred for a diagnostic video thoracoscopy under general anesthesia. At the end of the procedure, the patient presented with subcutaneous emphysema and cyanosis, abdominal distension, and bradycardia. A rigid bronchoscopy showed a longitudinal laceration in the pars membranacea of the trachea. A tracheal silicon stent was positioned on an emergency basis. She was intubated, positioning the tracheal tube cuff distal of the stent under bronchoscopic vision. A computed tomographic scan performed immediately after the procedure showed left pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, pneumopericardium, and diffuse subcutaneous emphysema. The subsequent course of the patient was uneventful. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 4. After 1 year, the stent was removed with the evidence of complete trachel healing. (Ann Thorac Surg 2012;94:1001-3) (C) 2012 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons