Neonatal pharyngoesophageal perforation mimicking esophageal atresia: clues to diagnosis

Perforation of the newborn child's esophagus or pharynx can mimic esophageal atresia clinically. Fourteen cases of newborn hypopharyngeal or esophageal perforation are presented. In nine cases, esophageal atresia was the initial diagnosis entertained; seven of these on the first day of life. In four others, the diagnosis of a perforated pharynx or esophagus was evident on plain x-ray. Six patients had esophagograms. Two newborns underwent thoracotomies for repair of their initially diagnosed esophageal atresia. Subsequently, esophageal perforation was diagnosed intraoperatively on each and suture repair was undertaken. The 12 remaining neonates were treated nonoperatively. There were four deaths, all in the nonoperative group and three weighing less than 1,000 g. None of the deaths were directly attributable to the perforations. In retrospect, each child presented with one or more early clues to the diagnosis of pharyngoesophageal perforation, which included a history of difficult tracheal or nasogastric intubation, blood in the nasogastric tube, length and course of nasogastric tube inserted, and subtle chest x-ray changes. In these cases, nonoperative treatment is usually successful.     

Neonatal tracheal perforation

Tracheal perforation following intubation in the neonatal period is rarely reported but is a serious complication that should be considered whenever difficulty in ventilation, surgical emphysema or pneumothoraces appear following intubation. Management includes the immediate and skilled replacement of the tube within the tracheal lumen and control of the air leak. Factors which increase the likelihood of occurrence of perforation are discussed.     

Esophageal tear: an unusual complication after difficult endotracheal intubation

Esophageal perforation is a serious life threatening injury that may occur during inadvertent esophageal intubation. We report two cases of iatrogenic esophageal perforation after attempted endotracheal intubation. Our experience confirms that early diagnosis (as in the first case) is associated with a more favorable outcome. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of this complication because the symptoms are often nonspecific and may be delayed.     

Tracheal rupture related to endotracheal intubation after thyroid surgery: a case report and systematic review

Tracheobronchial rupture is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of endotracheal intubation. The most likely cause of tracheal injury is massive overinflation of the endotracheal tube cuff and pre‐existing tracheal wall weakness. We review the relevant literature and predisposing factors contributing to this complication. Only articles that reported at least the demographic data (age and sex), the treatment performed and the outcome were included. Papers that did not detail these variables were excluded. We also focus on a case of tracheal laceration after tracheal intubation in a patient with severe thyroid carcinoma. This patient received surgical repair and recovered uneventfully. Two hundred and eight studies that reported cases or case series were selected for analysis. Most of the reported cases (57·2%) showed an uneventful recovery after surgical therapy. The overall mortality was 19·2% (40 patients). Our patient too recovered without any serious complication. Careful prevention, early detection and proper treatment of the problem are necessary when tracheal rupture occurs. The morbidity and mortality associated with tracheal injury mandate a high level of suspicion and expedient management.     

Esophageal perforation after tracheal intubation,spontaneous or iatrogenic?--a case report

Esophageal perforation is a rare but life-threatening complication associated with tracheal intubation, especially after difficult intubation. Esophageal perforation after anesthesia is rare and usually secondary to esophageal instrumentation. Spontaneous esophageal perforation following forceful vomiting (Boerhaave's syndrome) is also extremely rare and has some risk factors. We present a case of perforation of esophagus after cataract surgery under general anesthesia with gentle orotracheal intubation and discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for this unusual disease entity. The patient underwent successful surgical repair and was still alive 4 years after the operation.     

Perforation of the esophagus during attempted endotracheal intubation]

A case is reported of oesophageal perforation which occurred during an attempt to carry out endotracheal intubation. A 54-year-old female patient was scheduled for mastectomy. She had no clinical features likely to predict a difficult endotracheal intubation. After induction with thiopentone, phenoperidine and suxamethonium, three attempts were made to carry out tracheal intubation with a Mallinckrodt Lo-pro tube, internal diameter 7.5 mm. During the third attempt, the oesophagus was accidentally intubated. The diagnosis was made before any insufflation was carried out. Another anaesthetist took over, and intubated the patient. At that time, there was left-sided cervical emphysema which quickly spread. An oesophageal perforation was suspected, and the patient was given 500 mg of metronidazole and 1 g of cefotetan. Postoperatively, the antibiotics were continued, and the patient had nothing by mouth. Oesophagography showed a posterior fistula in the upper third. Conservative treatment was continued until the seventh day, when another oesophagography was carried out. This showed that the perforation had completely healed. This rather rare complication of endotracheal intubation may have a poor prognosis if it results in mediastinitis. The diagnosis and prognosis of this complication and its treatment, whether conservative or surgical, are discussed.     

Iatrogenic ruptures of the tracheobronchial tree.

OBJECTIVE: Iatrogenic tracheobronchial ruptures are seldom but severe complications after intubation or bronchoscopy. Therefore, we evaluated the reasons, the subsequent therapy and the outcome of patients with tracheal rupture, who were admitted to our hospital. METHODS: In a retrospective study we examined 19 patients (15 women, four men; 43-87 years) treated for acute tracheobronchial lesions. Eleven (58%) patients had a tracheobronchial rupture by single-lumen tube, four (21%) by double-lumen tube and two patients (10%) by tracheal cannula. A total of 47% of whom were carried out under emergency conditions. Two patients had a rupture due to a stiff bronchoscopy. Mean symptoms were mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema. Two emergency collar incisions had been done. RESULTS: The localization of ruptures was in all cases in the paries membranaceus, length: 1-7 cm (mean: 4.8 cm). The interval between the onset of symptoms and the diagnose differed widely (up to 72 h), nine (47%) diagnoses were made during intubation/bronchoscopy. One patient, with a small tear (1 cm) was treated conservatively with fibrin-glue. The other 18 patients had surgical repair through a thoracotomy. The postoperative mortality was determined with 42%, which was not dependent on the rupture but basically by the underlying diseases requiring intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic tracheal rupture is a dangerous complication with potentially high postoperative mortality, mostly influenced by the underlying disease. Early surgical repair must be the preferred treatment.     

Die Perforation des Hypopharynx als seltene, lebensbedrohliche Komplikation der endotrachealen Intubation

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation is regarded as the gold standard technique to secure the airway with a low complication rate, however, perforating tracheal or esophageal injuries are rare but severe complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cases of hypopharyngeal perforation after intubation are presented and discussed. RESULTS: While intubation of the first patient was anticipated to be difficult, the second patient did not present any risk factors. One patient developed a typical clinical pattern of difficult swallowing, soft tissue emphysema of the neck, pyrexia, and leukocytosis. The other initially showed minor symptoms but increasing difficulties in swallowing led to the diagnosis of a retropharyngeal abscess. A subsequent acute airway obstruction required emergency invasive airway access. In both cases surgical intervention in combination with antibiotic therapy resulted in complete healing. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians performing endotracheal intubation or dealing with patients after intubation, should be aware of the clinical symptoms because only early diagnosis and therapy can prevent development of mediastinitis. In "cannot intubate-cannot ventilate" situations, wide bore transtracheal airway access under local anaesthesia and spontaneous breathing should have priority and temporary tracheotomy should also be considered. To prevent hypopharyngeal injury a thorough evaluation of the "difficult airway" and the atraumatic performance of direct laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation are mandatory.     

Validation study of two-microphone acoustic reflectometry for determination of breathing tube placement in 200 adult patients

BACKGROUND: Acoustic reflectometry allows the construction of a one-dimensional image of a cavity, such as the airway or the esophagus. The reflectometric area-distance profile consists of a constant cross-sectional area segment (length of endotracheal tube), followed either by a rapid increase in the area beyond the carina (tracheal intubation) or by an immediate decrease in the area (esophageal intubation). METHODS: Two hundred adult patients were induced and intubated, without restrictions on anesthetic agents or airway adjunct devices. A two-microphone acoustic reflectometer was used to determine whether the breathing tube was placed in the trachea or esophagus. A blinded reflectometer operator, seated a distance away from the patient, interpreted the acoustic area-distance profile alone to decide where the tube was placed. Capnography was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Of 200 tracheal intubations confirmed by capnography, the reflectometer operator correctly identified 198 (99% correct tracheal intubation identification rate). In two patients there were false-negative results, patients with a tracheal intubation were interpreted as having an esophageal intubation. A total of 14 esophageal intubations resulted, all correctly identified by reflectometry, for a 100% esophageal intubation identification rate. CONCLUSIONS: Acoustic reflectometry is a rapid, noninvasive method by which to determine whether breathing tube placement is correct (tracheal) or incorrect (esophageal). Reflectometry determination of tube placement may be useful in airway emergencies, particularly in cases where visualization of the glottic area is not possible and capnography may fail, as in patients with cardiac arrest.     

Tracheal perforation following double-lumen intubation: a case report

Tracheal perforation following endotracheal intubation is an underestimated complication that seriously compromises prognosis. Treatment can be either conservative or surgical, depending on the lesion and the patient's clinical condition. In this case report, we describe a patient in whom tracheal perforation occurred during double-lumen tube placement for elective surgery on a pulmonary nodule. As the perforation was accessible to the surgeon, a running suture could be made from the oesophageal wall.     

Mortality from iatrogenic esophageal perforations is high: experience of 54 treated cases

OBJECTIVE: To underline the severity of instrumental esophageal perforations and to discuss their management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from patients treated for instrumental esophageal perforation were collected retrospectively from 1980 to 1995 then prospectively since 1995 to 2000. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were treated for instrumental perforations. Perforation occurred after exploratory endoscopy (n = 24), endoscopic dilation (n = 13), attempted tracheal intubation (n = 5), foreign body extraction (n = 5), treatment of esophageal varices (n = 4), trans-esophageal echocardiography (n = 2), and duodenal prosthesis implantation (n = 1). Clinical manifestations were immediate in 18 cases and delayed in all others, with an interval before treatment ranging from 2 hours to 45 days (mean = 70 hours). All patients were operated after large spectrum antibiotherapy and intensive care, except 3 who were treated medically due to their poor general condition. Fourteen (26%) patients died, including the 3 non-operated ones. CONCLUSION: Instrumental esophageal perforations are associated with a high mortality, probably due to the poor general condition of the patients. Diagnosis of these perforations is often delayed. A good experience of endoscopic maneuveurs and adequate post-endoscopic monitoring could allow earlier surgical treatment with lower mortality.     

Iatrogenic esophageal perforation caused by endoscopic dilatation of caustic stricture: Current management and possibility of esophageal salvage

BackgroundIatrogenic esophageal perforation (EP) is an undesirable complication of endoscopic dilatation of caustic esophageal stricture. We reported our current management protocol with possibility of continuing the dilatation program.Patients and methodsFrom January 2009 to January 2020 medical records were reviewed for patients presented with iatrogenic EP. Management according to each case condition was reported.Results24 patients were enrolled, aged from 1.5 to 6 years old. Perforation was cervical in one case, abdominal in two cases, and thoracic in 21 cases. Immediate surgical repair was performed in the abdominal cases. Conservative management was chosen in 22 cases; two cases didn't respond and underwent esophageal diversion, and one of them died owing to severe sepsis. Three patients refused another trial of dilatation. Two cases failed to be redilated. 17 patients continued a dilatation program. Time passed between perforation and redilatation ranged from 35 days to 7 months. 15 patients were cured completely from dysphagia, one patient had marked improvement of his dysphagia, and one case with a resistant stricture was referred for esophageal replacement.ConclusionPreserving the native esophagus is possible after iatrogenic EP of caustic esophageal stricture. A conservative approach should be attempted with caution not to endanger patient's life.Level IV of evidence     

Die Trachealruptur Verzögerte Diagnose durch primär zu tiefe endobronchiale Intubation

Tracheobroncheal rupture is a rare complication of intubation techniques using a stylet. In this case report the patient was intubated by an emergency physician in a preclinical setting after a motor vehicle accident. Iatrogenic tracheal laceration was masked by inappropriate position of the endobronchial tube. By chance ventilation was maintained to both lungs by flow through the Murphy's eye of the tube and the lumen of the tube. In correcting the deep tube position after a chest x-ray laceration of the trachea was unmasked and ventilation problems occurred immediately. The tube was replaced under fiberoptical control and the patient was managed for surgical repair using a jet ventilation technique. In this case two complications of endobronchial intubation occurred, but the deep tube placement opposed the effects of the tracheal laceration. This was probably life saving for the patient during emergency transfer by helicopter after the accident. The anaesthesiological management during tracheal repair is discussed.     

Validation Study of Two-microphone Acoustic Reflectometry for Determination of Breathing Tube Placement in 200 Adult Patients

Background: Acoustic reflectometry allows the construction of a one-dimensional image of a cavity, such as the airway or the esophagus. The reflectometric area-distance profile consists of a constant cross-sectional area segment (length of endotracheal tube), followed either by a rapid increase in the area beyond the carina (tracheal intubation) or by an immediate decrease in the area (esophageal intubation).

Methods: Two hundred adult patients were induced and intubated, without restrictions on anesthetic agents or airway adjunct devices. A two-microphone acoustic reflectometer was used to determine whether the breathing tube was placed in the trachea or esophagus. A blinded reflectometer operator, seated a distance away from the patient, interpreted the acoustic area-distance profile alone to decide where the tube was placed. Capnography was used as the gold standard.

Results: Of 200 tracheal intubations confirmed by capnography, the reflectometer operator correctly identified 198 (99% correct tracheal intubation identification rate). In two patients there were false-negative results, i.e., patients with a tracheal intubation were interpreted as having an esophageal intubation. A total of 14 esophageal intubations resulted, all correctly identified by reflectometry, for a 100% esophageal intubation identification rate.     

胸段食管骨性异物穿孔的分类与外科治疗

目的 探讨骨性异物所致胸段食管破裂穿孔的分类及其治疗方法.方法 对57例胸段食管骨性异物破裂穿孔患者根据食管损伤性质和继发感染程度进行分类,分别采取不同手术方式并总结其疗效.结果 Ⅰ类为食管破裂、纵隔无脓肿形成,共计17例;其中直接食管破口连续缝合修补7例,直接缝合修补后,外穿孔部位用肋间肌加强6例,心包和带蒂大网膜加强各2例.Ⅱ类为纵膈脓肿期,共计13例;其中食管穿孔切除、胃代食管10例,纵隔脓肿清除胸腔引流3例.Ⅲ类为脓胸期,即骨性异物穿破食管后感染波及胸腔而形成脓胸,共计21例;其中食管穿孔切除、一期胃带食管12例,食管穿孔切除、二期胃或结肠带食管9例.Ⅳ类为脓肿侵犯周围器官并形成主动脉-食管瘘或气管食管瘘,共计6例;气管瘘修补、大网膜填塞、二期胃或结肠代食管术4例,病变段血管切除、人工血管置换、二期胃或结肠代食管2例.Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ类的51例患者50例获治愈,1例死于脓毒症引起的多脏器功能衰竭综合征.Ⅳ类的6例患者术前准备时麻醉诱导过程死亡1例,手术死亡1例,死因皆为食管-主动脉瘘导致的大出血,其余4例治愈.结论 对骨性异物所致胸段食管损伤病变进行分类,并采取相应方法治疗有助于提高疗效;一旦确诊均应采取积极的手术方式.     

食管破裂与穿孔15例的临床诊治分析

目的探讨食管破裂与穿孔的诊断与治疗,提高对该疾病的诊治水平。方法总结分析我科15例食管破裂与穿孔的临床病例资料。颈段食管穿孔3例,2例为异物所致,1例为外伤所致,均手术治疗,胸段食管破裂穿孔12例,其中自发性食管破裂穿孔4例,食管异物损伤5例,外伤性食管穿孔2例,医源性损伤1例,根据食管的损伤程度及感染累及范围分别采取食管切开异物取出食管修补,食管部分切除,纵隔引流,瘘口修补等手术治疗12例。结果15例食管破裂与穿孔治愈13例;1例死于合并糖尿病因胸腔和纵隔感染严重,中毒性休克,呼吸衰竭,肾功能衰竭;1例死于食管癌引发食管破裂穿孔致感染性休克,多器官衰竭。结论根据食管破裂与穿孔的大小、时间、部位、纵膈和胸腔污染程度,早期明确诊断,及时采取合适的手术方式是治疗的关键。     

A new technique for complete intraluminal repair of iatrogenic posterior tracheal lacerations

Tracheal laceration is a rare complication of endotracheal intubation. Early surgical treatment is mandatory in cases of pneumomediastinum with difficulty in ventilation to prevent mediastinitis and stricture. Surgical access to the posterior tracheal wall is via a right posterolateral thoracotomy, transcervical tracheotomy or tracheostomy, each of which is associated with specific morbidities. We developed a new optical needle holder consisting of a 12° HOPKINS telescope in a fixed attachment with an endoscopic needle holder to allow for complete intraluminal repair of posterior tracheal wall lacerations. Four patients were admitted with an iatrogenic tracheal laceration due to emergency intubation. In all cases, the repair of the tracheal laceration started with the introduction of a 14-mm rigid tracheoscope and subsequent jet-ventilation. Three of the tears were successfully repaired endotracheally with a running suture. In one case, the repair had to be converted to an open closure via posterolateral thoracotomy. Two patients were discharged extubated for further treatment of their underlying diseases. One patient died from a third cardiac infarction two days after the tracheal repair. We think that an exclusively endoluminal repair of longitudinal tracheal lacerations is feasible. This repair has convincing advantages including little surgical trauma, lack of scars and diminished postoperative pain.     

Orotracheal fibreoptic intubation in children under general anaesthesia

Orotracheal fibreoptic intubation under general anaesthesia in children was studied in eleven consecutive patients of three months to eight-years-of-age without anticipated intubation difficulties. One case report is also included. Three fibrescopes with a different diameter were used in the study. The fibrescope used was chosen so that it fitted snugly in the tracheal tube. The fibreoscopy was prolonged in one patient due to mucus and two tries were needed. Resistance to the tracheal tube upon intubation was encountered in five patients, only one of these patients was older than two years. Fibreoptic intubation succeeded in nine patients. Two patients were intubated with the Macintosh laryngoscope. The problems encountered in children during orotracheal fibreoptic intubation under general anaesthesia are the same as with adults: easy fibreoscopy is not always followed by easy tracheal intubation, there may be prolonged fibreoscopy and failed intubations. Manipulation of the tracheal tube can lead to successful tracheal intubation and resistance to the tube is more common in smaller children.     

Accuracy and reliability of the self-inflating bulb to verify tracheal intubation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

BACKGROUND: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the self-inflating bulb (SIB) to verify tracheal intubation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were enrolled. Patients were provided chest compression and ventilation by either ba-valve-mask or the esophageal tracheal double-lumen airway by ambulance crews when they arrived at the authors' department. Immediately after intubation in the emergency department, the endotracheal tube position was tested by the SIB and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitor using an infrared carbon dioxide analyzer. We observed the SIB reinflating for 10 s, and full reinflation within 4 s was defined as a positive result (tracheal intubation). RESULTS: Five esophageal intubations occurred, and the SIB correctly identified all esophageal intubations. Of the 65 tracheal intubations, the SIB correctly identified 47 tubes placed in the trachea (72.3%). Delayed but full reinflation occurred in one tracheal intubation during the 10-s observation period. Fifteen tracheal intubations had incomplete reinflation during the observation period, and two tracheal intubations did not achieve any reinflation. Thirty-nine tracheal intubations were identified by ETCO2 (60%). When the SIB test is combined with the ETCO2 detection, 59 tracheal intubations were identified with a 90.8% sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found a high incidence of false-negative results of the SIB in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Because no single test for verifying endotracheal tube position is reliable, all available modalities should be tested and used in conjunction with proper clinical judgment to verify tracheal intubation in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.     

Tracheobronchial lesions due to anesthetic procedures. Report of 2 cases

We have reviewed 48.000 patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia in our department during the last 12 years. We have found 14 cases of tracheal rupture (2.9%). In 7 cases (1.4%) rupture was due to direct trauma or laceration at the thorax or neck; in 5 patients (1.04%) it was produced by steel blade or firearm; and in the remaining 2 cases (0.4%) tracheal rupture was produced during anesthesia. In one of these two patients rupture was produced by a double lumen Carlens tube used during a right thoracotomy. This patient had previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis. Tracheal rupture occurred at the end of the surgical procedure coinciding with a displacement of the endotracheal tube and was suspected because the presence of air escape. It was verified by exploring the mediastinal pleura. Due to the rapid diagnosis and prompt repair the lesion had no clinical consequences and the surgical intervention was successfully completed. The second patient underwent a diagnostic laparomy and presented tracheal rupture due to severe bronchospasm during and apparently normal intubation procedure. The moment at which the tracheal lesion occurred was unnoticed and the patient suffered a progressive ventilatory deterioration requiring reanimation procedures to preserve the hemodynamic status and to restore blood oxygen concentration and to compensate blood acidoses. Tracheal rupture was repaired during a second intervention and was followed by a clinical recovery. However the patient died later due to a complication unrelated to the anestethetic technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)