An Unusual Case of Iatrogenic Tracheal Diverticulum Found in a Mechanically Ventilated Patient: To Treat or Not to Treat

Abstract

A tracheal diverticulum is an out pouching arising from the wall of the trachea, and its lumen is in communication with the tracheal lumen. It is a small air collection in the para-tracheal region and is an infrequently encountered clinical entity. This condition is often found incidentally on thoracic imaging and should be considered when para-tracheal air is present. It can be congenital or acquired. In the absence of symptoms, management is mainly conservative with close monitoring for complications such as para-tracheal abscess. We present a case of iatrogenic tracheal diverticulum that formed likely due to increased cuff pressure of the mispositioned endotracheal tube seated against a tracheal wall already vulnerable to injury due to multi-organ failure.