[Rupture of the trachea after emergency endotracheal intubation].

The rupture of the trachea is a rare but serious complication after endotracheal intubation. We report the case of a 77-year-old severely diseased woman with emergency intubation after development of acute respiratory distress. Four days after the emergency intubation a laceration of the membraneous part of the trachea was diagnosed. The patients general condition and the infaust prognosis resulted in the lack of therapeutic options and the death of the patient. According to the forensic autopsy the secondary perforation is probably a consequence of intubation or a pressure lesion of the tube in combination with a weakness of the membraneous part of the trachea due to impaired microperfusion. Every physician performing an intubation has to be aware of the risk and the consequences of a tracheal rupture.