Tropical doctor
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The use of a tracheostomy is routine in current intensive care practice to facilitate weaning patients requiring prolonged respiratory support from mechanical ventilation. Percutaneous tracheostomy has become an established technique with an acceptable risk profile in appropriately selected patients, and has the advantage that it can be performed at the bedside without the need for an operating theatre. This is particularly relevant in a resource-poor setting. ⋯ Without two operators, it is possible for the tracheal tube to become displaced before the completion of the tracheostomy with potentially disastrous consequences. We describe a method by which the airway and ventilation can be maintained if accidental tracheal extubation occurs before completion of a percutaneous tracheostomy. The 'Malawi Device', a cheap and simple modification of readily available equipment, enables a single operator to maintain the airway and ventilate the patient when the above scenario occurs.