Anterior translocation of the right pulmonary artery for airway obstruction caused by pulmonary hypertension

Both the bronchi are often severely squeezed by the dilated pulmonary artery in infants with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension. To relieve the considerable residual airway obstruction, the right pulmonary artery is translocated anteriorly to the ascending aorta concomitantly with the intracardiac repair. This technique is a useful procedure for infants with intractable respiratory failure caused by a dilated pulmonary artery.     

Acute airway obstruction, hypertension and kyphoscoliosis

An elderly woman developed acute respiratory obstruction after choking on a bolus of food. On rigid bronchoscopy no foreign body, or anatomical obstruction was seen, but airway obstruction recurred during emergence from general anaesthesia, and was thought to be functional in nature. A recurring airway obstruction followed, relieved by induction of anaesthesia and by sedation. This was subsequently demonstrated to be caused by a tortuous aorta which impinged intermittently on the anterior tracheal wall, as a result of kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine. We attribute the relief of airway obstruction by general anaesthesia to a reduction in arterial blood pressure.     

Two cases of pulmonary hypertension crisis in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is an uncommon disease. We describe two cases of pulmonary hypertension crisis in patients with PPH during general anesthesia. Any factor that worsens primary pulmonary hypertension (strain, hypoxia, pain, hypercapnia, intubation, or hyperinflation) should be avoided.     

Isoflurane and primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare and fatal disease. These patients represent an anaesthetic challenge because of the high mortality associated with the marked intra-operative increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular decompensation. This is a first case report which demonstrates the safe and beneficial effects of isoflurane in lowering pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in such a patient for a short surgical procedure. The anaesthetic considerations in these patients are discussed.     

Asphyxic pulmonary edema caused by upper airway obstruction in adults

A case of pulmonary oedema following acute pharyngo-laryngeal obstruction is reported. The case is compared with the results of the literature. The haemodynamic data suggested a non-cardiogenic effect, with low pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure of 1 mmHg and right-to-left shunting. Positive end-expiratory pressure was used with success. The mechanisms underlying such oedema are not well known, and may include disturbances in the balance of transpulmonary forces or hypoxia. However the outcome is usually favourable.     

Surgical management of airway obstruction in primary tuberculosis in children.

BACKGROUND: The role of surgery in the management of airway obstruction from lymphobronchial tuberculosis is discussed in the present article. METHODS: Nine patients were operated on over a 4-year period and are currently presented. The age of the patients ranged between 5 and 28 months and 7 patients were male. Six patients required preoperative ventilation due to respiratory failure and all received standard posterolateral thoracotomies. Partial dissection and enucleation of bulky lymph nodes was performed in all but 1 patient. In that patient, the group of lymph nodes could be removed fully, including the sheath. RESULTS: All patients showed marked improvement and were weaned off the ventilator between 24 and 72 hours postoperatively. Long term follow-up was available in 7 patients and they are all doing well and are free of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Enucleation of mediastinal lymph nodes obstructing the airways in young patients with lymphobronchial tuberculosis is safe. It successfully relieves obstruction and is devoid of complication providing that incision, evacuation, and curettage of lymph nodes is performed avoiding overzealous dissection.     

Acute pulmonary oedema. A complication of upper airway obstruction

A case of postoperative laryngeal spasm is presented in which severe pulmonary oedema developed after the laryngeal spasm was relieved. The management is discussed and some suggestions for prevention of pulmonary oedema in similar circumstances made. The pathophysiology of pulmonary oedema after acute upper airway obstruction is described.     

Non cardiogenic pulmonary edema as consequence of upper airway obstruction

Non cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a rare complication of upper airway obstruction. Its etiology is controversial, but probably can be explaired by the Starlings law, when the large negative intrathoracic pressure generated excedes the intravascular and interstitial pressures, shifting fluids from capillaries to interstitium and alveoli. In addition, alteration of capillary permeability potentiates fluid migration.We present herein, a case of non cardiogenic pulmonary edema following relief of upper airway obstruction in a 14 years old girl underwent surgical repair of cleft palate.Cardiogenic pulmonary edema could be excluded by a normal CVP, wedge pressure and four chamber echocardiography. The edema fluid: plasma protein ratio greater than 0.7 can indicate an increased capillary permeability. Mendelsons syndrome could be ruled out by the rapid improvement seen and the soft clinical course.(Weksler N, Ovadia L: Non cardiogenic pulmonary edema as consequence of upper airway obstruction J Anesth 3: 40–42, 1989)     

Acute pulmonary edema secondary to acute upper airway obstruction]

We report a 72 years old woman with mild arterial hypertension and no other pathological history who presented an acute pulmonary edema due to acute obstruction of the upper airway secondary to vocal chord paralysis developing during the immediate postoperative phase of thyroidectomy. The acute pulmonary edema resolved after application of tracheal reintubation, mechanical ventilation controlled with end expiratory positive pressure, diuretics, morphine, and liquid restriction. We discuss the possible etiopathogenic possibilities of this infrequent clinical picture and we suggest that all patients who suffered and acute obstruction of the upper airways require a careful clinical surveillance in order to prevent the development of the pulmonary syndrome.     

Urinary cGMP concentrations in severe primary pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND: Prognostic evaluation of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) requires right heart catheterisation. The development of accurate non-invasive methods for monitoring these patients remains an important task. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is an indicator of the action of natriuretic peptides and nitric oxide on target cells. Plasma and urinary cGMP concentrations are raised in patients with congestive heart failure in whom they correlate closely with haemodynamic parameters and disease severity. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the urinary concentration of cGMP could be used as a non-invasive marker of haemodynamic impairment in patients with severe PPH. METHODS: Urinary cGMP concentrations were measured in 19 consecutive patients with PPH, seven with acute asthma, and 30 normal healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients with PPH had higher urinary cGMP concentrations than asthmatic patients or normal healthy controls (p = 0.001). Urinary cGMP concentrations were higher in patients with severe haemodynamic impairment--that is, those with a cardiac index (CI) of < or = 2 l/min/m2 (p = 0.002)--and urinary cGMP concentrations were inversely correlated with CI (r = -0.69, p = 0.002) and venous oxygen saturation (r = -0.65, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Urinary cGMP concentrations may represent a non-invasive indicator of the haemodynamic status of patients with severe PPH.     

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome: operation in infants with airway obstruction.

From 1979 through 1991, 19 infants with absent pulmonary valve syndrome and airway obstruction were seen for surgical treatment. All patients underwent extensive pulmonary artery aneurysmorrhaphy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Fourteen patients had simultaneous transatrial ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure, infundibular resection, and placement of a short transannular patch; 2 had transventricular VSD closure and infundibular resection without a transannular patch; 1 underwent transventricular VSD closure and transannular patching; and 2 underwent pulmonary artery aneurysmorrhaphy alone with the VSD left open. All 19 infants had good hemodynamics when taken from the operating theater, but 3 died postoperatively of severe airway obstruction, despite further tracheobronchopexy procedures in 2 (hospital mortality rate, 16%; confidence limits, 7% to 29%). Among the 16 patients discharged from the hospital, there was one late death. Five other patients have required reoperation for branch pulmonary artery stenosis (n = 2), residual airway obstruction resulting from persistent pulmonary artery dilatation (n = 1), closure of VSD (n = 1), and homograft valve insertion for pulmonary incompetence and right ventricular dysfunction (n = 1). There are 15 long-term survivors. Eight of them have episodic bronchospasm of mild to moderate severity, and all are responsive to sympathomimetic bronchodilator aerosols. The remaining 7 are asymptomatic.     

Negative pressure pulmonary oedema secondary to airway obstruction in an intubated infant

We report the case of a healthy one-month-old male infant who underwent an uneventful endotracheal anaesthetic for hernia repair. During transport to the recovery room (a less than 30 second trip), the endotracheal tube in the spontaneously breathing infant became obstructed, possibly due to impaction of the tip in the right main bronchus. Restoration of the airway was followed by fulminant pulmonary oedema. Several days of vigorous respiratory and pharmacologic therapy were required for resolution of the infant's respiratory distress. We review other reported cases of acute airway obstruction associated with pulmonary oedema in children and briefly describe the proposed mechanisms. The difficulties of gauging proper endotracheal tube depth in the infant are noted. This case report demonstrates the importance of continuous monitoring during patient transport to the recovery room.     

Thoracic epidural anaesthesia and primary pulmonary hypertension

Patients with primary pulmonary hypertension occasionally present for surgery. Anaesthesia requires continuous cardiovascular monitoring and maintenance of stable pulmonary and systemic haemodynamics. The management of a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension, undergoing open lung biopsy under a combination of general anaesthesia and thoracic epidural analgesia is reported and the problems of primary pulmonary hypertension are discussed.