Case Report
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World J Anesthesiol. Nov 27, 2013; 2(3): 30-32
Published online Nov 27, 2013. doi: 10.5313/wja.v2.i3.30
Fractured tracheostomy tube obturator: A rare cause of respiratory distress in a tracheostomized patient
Mussarat Afzal, Hadi Al Mutairi, Ikram Chaudhary
Mussarat Afzal, Hadi Al Mutairi, Ikram Chaudhary, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, PC 31444, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Mussarat Afzal, Consultant Anesthetist, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, PO Box 15215, Dammam, PC 31444, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. dr_mussarat_a@hotmail.com
Telephone: +966-56-1116907 Fax: +966-56-1116907
Received: March 5, 2013
Revised: May 3, 2013
Accepted: June 8, 2013
Published online: November 27, 2013
Processing time: 142 Days and 14.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Foreign body aspiration is often a serious medical condition that demands timely recognition and prompt action. Delayed diagnosis and subsequent delayed treatment is associated with serious and sometimes life threatening complications. We describe a case of acute respiratory distress following aspiration of part of the obturator of a tracheostomy tube during a routine change of the tracheostomy tube.