Iatrogenic tracheal rupture: bovine pericardial patch repair without flap reinforcement

Abstract

We describe a case of an extensive post-intubation membranous tracheal rupture in a 67-year old patient after emergency intubation. This was managed surgically by bovine pericardial patch repair. Other cases of autologous and bovine patch repair of tracheal lacerations exist in the literature, and we believe this is the first report of successful bovine patch repair without accessory autologous tissue reinforcement. This technique may be used in surgically managed cases of membranous tracheal rupture where primary repair is unsuitable, thereby reducing procedural complexity.