Instrumental bronchial tears.

Two case reports of bronchial tears following airway instrumentation are presented, one of which resulted in death. Both patients developed pneumothoraces and other complications after attempts had been made under general anaesthesia to insert bronchial stents. It appeared that bronchial tears were made during instrumentation with the stent introducer and these cases demonstrate that great care should be taken when rigid materials, such as plastic guides and bougies, are used blindly in the airway.