Respiratory Failure and Cor Pulmonale Associated with Tracheal Mucoid Accumulation from a SCOOP Transtracheal Oxygen Catheter

Transtracheal oxygen (TTO) delivery for patients with chronic hypoxemia has been used increasingly since its introduction in 1982. Most complications have been relatively minor and usually occur in conjunction with catheter placement. This report describes two patients with long-term catheter use who developed increasing respiratory failure and cor pulmonale, at least in part, due to a large tracheal mucus plug.