[Tracheal injuries during percutaneous tracheotomy].

Subcutaneous emphysema associated with impossible tracheobronchial aspiration occurred in a patient several hours after percutaneous tracheostomy. Misplacement of tracheal cannula was diagnosed and a tube exchanger was used to replace the cannula in a normal position. Twenty hours later a tracheal tear was recognized. This paper considers the pathophysiology and prevention of such a complication.