Tracheoinnominate Artery Fistula

AudienceThis simulation provides training for emergency medicine residents in the stepwise management of a patient who presents with bleeding from a tracheoinnominate artery fistula. Additional learners who might benefit from this simulation are otolaryngology and general surgery residents as well as critical care fellows. IntroductionHemorrhage from a tracheoinnominate artery fistula (TIAF) is a rare but life-threatening complication in a patient with a recent tracheostomy. This complication occurs in 0.7% of tracheostomy patients with a mortality of 50-70%.1 Seventy-five percent of patients with a TIAF will present within the first three weeks of surgery and 50% of patients will present with a sentinel bleed that briefly resolves.1 Key elements of a history and exam that should raise a provider's concern for this diagnosis include a recent tracheostomy (within the last 4 weeks), a percutaneous tracheostomy, prior radiation, chronic steroid use, a neck or chest deformity or a sentinel bleed.2 Survival from a TIAF hinges upon emergent, operative repair by an otolaryngologist and cardiothoracic surgeon. Cuff hyperinflation and the Utley Maneuver are critical bedside interventions to temporize this massive bleed and stabilize the patient for definitive, operative repair. Educational ObjectivesBy the end of this simulation, learners will be able to: 1) perform a focused history and physical exam on any patient who presents with bleeding from the tracheostomy site, 2) describe the differential diagnosis of bleeding from a tracheostomy site, including a TIAF, 3) demonstrate the stepwise management of bleeding from a suspected TIAF, including cuff hyperinflation and the Utley Maneuver, 4) verify that definitive airway control via endotracheal intubation is only feasible in the tracheostomy patient when it is clear, upon history and exam, that the patient can be intubated from above, 5) demonstrate additional critical actions in the management of a patient with a TIAF, including early consultation with otolaryngology and cardiothoracic surgery as well as emergent blood transfusion and activation of a massive transfusion protocol. Educational MethodsThis case was written with a modified, low-fidelity manikin, traditionally used for training in nasogastric tube placement and tracheostomy care. We modified this manikin to simulate a hemorrhage from the tracheostomy site.3 The patient in our case had a history of laryngeal cancer, and thus we occluded his larynx for