Complications in the use of the subcutaneous tunnelled intratracheal oxygen catheter

Abstract Transtracheal oxygen delivery seems to be a safe procedure in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with chronic hypoxaemia. Even so, serious complications do occur. Three patients in whom we used a subcutaneous tunnelled intratracheal oxygen catheter (ITO 2 C) are described. Surgical intervention was required in all because of complications from the procedure. One of the complications—tracheal and catheter obstruction with stridor and subcutaneous emphysema by granulomatous tissue—has to our knowledge not been reported before.