[Lethal vascular erosion after percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy].

We report on a patient who underwent dilatational tracheostomy (Ciaglia technique) because of ARDS. 29 days after the procedure she died of hemorrhage from an arrosion of the bracheocephalic trunk, caused by the cuff of the tracheal cannula. This complication has, so far, been reported only after surgical tracheostomy. The fracture of tracheal cartilages is considered to be the specific cause of this fatal complication. The consequent loss of circular stability of the trachea demands increased cuff insufflation and pressure to tighten the airway. Prevention and therapy consist in control of the cuff pressure and caudal placement of the tracheal cannula.