• Sanjay M Athavale, Jennifer Dang, Sanjeet Rangarajan, and Gaelyn Garrett.
• Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-8605, USA. sanjay.m.athavale@vanderbilt.edu
• Laryngoscope. 2011 May 1; 121 (5): 1003-5.

AbstractAlthough they are extremely effective in maintaining tracheal and subglottic patency, T-tubes themselves can result in airway obstruction from plugging. Many practitioners educate patients on placing a small (5.0) endotracheal tube (ETT) through the tracheal limb of the T-tube if they develop airway obstruction. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult task to complete during acute airway obstruction. In this article, we describe a simple set of steps for rapid relief of airway obstruction and stabilization of the airway in the event of T-tube obstruction. This method requires removal of the T-tube with a Kelly clamp and stabilization of the airway with a tracheostomy tube. Although it is simple, we hope that this technique will prevent morbidity and mortality from acute airway obstructions related to T-tubes.Copyright © 2011 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.

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