Postintubation Tracheal Pseudomembrane

Abstract

We report a nearly fatal case of a patient with an obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane as an early complication of endotracheal intubation. The patient developed a thick tubular, rubberlike, whitish pseudomembrane moulding the tracheal wall as a result of short-duration endotracheal intubation. This pseudomembrane firmly adhered to the tracheal wall at the site of the endotracheal cuff. Five days after extubation, partial detachment of the distal part of the pseudomembrane produced acute respiratory failure due to valve-manner tracheal obstruction. Mechanical ablation appeared to be curative.