• Xinqi Hu, Xiaofeng Chen, Xidong Cui, Yitan Cao, and Guangbin Sun.
• Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Dec 17; 100 (50): e28106e28106.

IntroductionTransoral laser microsurgery (TLM) is one of the most common operations performed for glottic lesions. Several protection measures are taken to prevent tracheal damage. However, some protection measures and common postoperative complications may still cause delayed tracheal rupture in certain situations. Cases of tracheal rupture after surgery are extremely rare, and there are no previous reports of TLM of the glottis causing tracheal rupture.Patient ConcernsA middle-aged woman who underwent TLM for bilateral vocal cord polyps developed sudden neck pain, followed by cough and subcutaneous emphysema.DiagnosisShe underwent head, neck, and chest computed tomography (CT), which revealed a 4-cm membranous tracheal tear located 4.5 cm distal to the glottis, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema extending from the base of skull to the chest.InterventionsThe patient underwent an emergency surgical surgical chest exploration and tracheal repair.OutcomesOne month after the surgery, the patient fully recovered with no tracheal stenosis or respiratory dysfunction.ConclusionsConventional protective measures and common postoperative complications of TLM may also cause tracheal rupture.Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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