• Zareen Aliiana Lynrah, Shilpa Goyal, Amit Goyal, Nari Mary Lyngdoh, Neizekhotuo Brian Shunyu, Binayak Baruah, Rashna Dass, Mohammad Yunus, and Prithwis Bhattacharyya.
• Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong 793018, Meghalaya, India.
• Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Nov 1;76(11):1691-5.

ObjectiveTracheostomy tubes are extensively used in paediatric age group for airway issues. Their fracture and lodgement into trachea is an acute emergency requiring urgent intervention.CasesWe report three such paediatric cases having tracheostomy tube fracture and aspiration into trachea with different presentations and treatment outcomes.ResultsOne patient was successfully managed with bronchoscopy and fractured tube removal. One patient succumbed to asphyxia before any intervention. The third patient was having supratubal tracheal stenosis making things more dangerous, but was managed successfully by tracheoscopy through tracheostomy opening with removal of fractured tube.ConclusionImmediate identification is the key to successful management of this rare but life threatening situation. In the presence of tracheal stenosis above the tracheostomy opening, situation becomes more dangerous with very limited options for management.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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