What Causes Food Leakage From The Stoma Around The Tracheostomy Tube?

Posted on Wed, 8 Feb 2017

Question: Patient is a quadriplegic (c-3 injury) with a #7 tracheostomy tube in place. With the cuff inflated, the patient was given pureed vegetables orally. He had been eating pureed to course ground foods for several weeks
without a problem. Suddenly patient is having food material "leaking" from the stoma around the tube.
Suctioning in the tracheostomy shows no aspiration of the food into the lungs. Can you think of any explain-
ation for this?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You need to get done barium swallow.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of trachea esophageal fistula above cuff point is more likely in this case.
So get done barium swallow to confirm this.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to this patient. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar