Negative pressure pulmonary oedema following tracheal tube obstruction in a paediatric patient: a preventable anaesthesia related morbidity.

The purpose of this study is to describe negative pressure pulmonary oedema due to undetected tracheal tube obstruction in a paediatric patient. A healthy 6 week-old scheduled for release of tongue-tie under general anaesthesia was noticed to be diagnosed at the preparation of the surgical site. The patient was quickly assessed, and ventilation with 100% oxygen was commenced. The heart sounds were still present. Two minutes later, pink frothy secretion was noticed in the lumen of the tracheal tube. Assisted manual ventilation was continued for about 3 hours in the intensive care unit (ICU). Clinical examination after 8 hours of oxygen therapy indicated stable vital signs and was discharged to the ward. Undetected tracheal obstruction due to unsupervised patient positioning may result in negative pressure pulmonary oedema in a paediatric patient. Improved communication between the surgical and the anaesthetic teams may prevent this morbidity.