Lacroix G, Meaudre E, Prunet B, Bordes J, Allanic L, Kaiser E
Département d'anesthésie-réanimation-urgences, hôpital d'instruction des Armées-Sainte-Anne, boulevard Sainte-Anne, 83000 Toulon, France.
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2009 Nov;28(11):980-2. doi: 10.1016/j.annfar.2009.10.010. Epub 2009 Nov 24.
The tracheo-innominate artery fistula is a rare but life-threatening complication of the tracheotomy. Its care management requires a rapid airway control to allow haemostasis by compression and ventilation. The haemostasis must be immediate and two techniques exist: surgery opencast (sternotomy) or interventional radiology. The choice between the two depends largely on the technical platform available. Our case report describes a tracheo-innomninate artery fistula surgically managed with success. The patient carried an anatomic variant, the two carotids come from innominate artery.