Tracheal rupture following endotracheal intubation.

We describe a case of tracheal rupture diagnosed after an apparently routine endotracheal intubation for otherwise uneventful lower abdominal surgery in a 33-year-old woman. Risk factors for tracheal rupture, presenting symptoms and signs, management of tracheal rupture and methods of airway management during the surgical repair of the tracheal laceration are discussed. In this case, "side-by-side" microlaryngoscopy tubes, one endobronchial and the other with the tip in the upper trachea, placed with fibreoptic assistance were used for airway management during the tracheal repair.