Commentary: Tracheo-innominate fistula - Stent or Sternotomy?

Tracheo-innominate fistula(TIF) is a life-threatening condition in patients with an existing tracheostomy and carries a high mortality rate. Mild bleeding from the tracheostomy site arises more often from mucosal trauma, but a ‘herald’ bleed from a TIF may be easily missed and so is the window to intervene in a controlled situation. In the setting of a major bleed from an old tracheostomy site, a majority of our readers may believe the standard of care for these patients is an emergent trip to the operating room and a STAT page to the on call cardiac surgeon.

Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - October 13, 2019 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Sashi Inkollu Tags: ADULT – Editorial Commentary Source Type: research