Isolated Lung Ventilation With Tracheostomy Using Two Intubation Tubes for Severe Endotracheal Hemorrhage Due to Pulmonary Contusion

TL;DR

A novel airway management technique using two intubation tubes during tracheostomy improved breathing in a trauma patient with severe lung bleeding.

Contribution

A new method for isolated lung ventilation using dual intubation tubes during tracheostomy in trauma patients with coagulopathy.

Findings

The use of two endotracheal tubes with separate cuffs allowed better separation of healthy and injured lung compartments.

Bilateral bronchoscopy improved drainage of viscous secretions and helped reverse atelectasis.

This method provided stable respiratory support in a patient with multiple traumatic injuries and coagulopathy.

Abstract

A 72-year-old man presented with severe pulmonary contusions and multiple traumas, including aortic injury, pelvic fracture, and renal injury. The patient required multidisciplinary treatment, including transcatheter arterial embolization, thoracic endovascular aortic repair, right lung upper lobe partial resection, and massive transfusion. During the initial treatment, the patient experienced respiratory failure due to endotracheal bleeding, and we attempted isolated lung ventilation with a 37 Fr double-lumen endotracheal intubation tube. Although drainage by suction and protection of the healthy lung was vital, the patient was unable to maintain ventilation volume because of poor drainage. Additionally, the respiratory status deteriorated. To resolve the situation, a tracheotomy was performed and two endotracheal intubation tubes (6.0 mm inner diameter, and 9.0 mm outer diameter) were inserted through a large U-shaped tracheal hole 18 hours after admission. The respiratory status of the patient gradually improved after the procedure. There were two advantages of this method of respiratory management. Firstly, each of the two endotracheal tubes had a separate cuff, allowing more reliable separation of the healthy lung from the injured lung. Secondly, bronchoscopes of sufficient diameter (4.9 mm outer diameter ) were used bilaterally, allowing sufficient drainage of viscous airway secretions mixed with hematoma and improving atelectasis. Although venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a crucial support tool when the respiratory status deteriorates due to severe pulmonary contusions, our method of airway management may be attempted in patients with multiple traumatic injuries with coagulopathy.

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