Primary thyrotracheal anastomosis for subglottic stenosis with tracheostomy

A case of 42-year-old man with postintubation subglottic stenosis underwent primary thyrotracheal anastomosis. Since trachea had been incised longitudinally for previous tracheostomy, tracheal resection came to be longer. Therefore, we had to anastomose the incised trachea with thyroid cartilage even after the suprahyoid release. After the operation, he suffered from the tracheal collapse at the incised portion of the trachea One week after intubation, tracheal patency was achieved. We recommend horizontal incision for tracheostomy in patient with subglottic stenosis, when the following surgical approach is considered.     

Anesthesia for a cervical myelopathy patient with tracheal stenosis

A 71-year-old male with cervical myelopathy was scheduled for C 3-7 laminectomy. Once he had been rejected of general anesthesia in other hospital because of his tracheal stenosis. The diameter of the narrowest part of his trachea was 5 mm probably resulting from tracheostomy at 2 years of age. His cervical myelopathy seemed to be no problem for anesthesia induction because he had no problems in his neck movement and opening mouth. We evaluated his tracheal stenosis carefully using bronchofiberscopy, chest X-ray, computed tomography and pulmonary function tests. After intravenous fentanyl 100 micrograms and midazolam 2.5 mg, it was impossible to ventilate the patient. Therefore, tracheal intubation was performed immediately after lidocaine administration into the trachea. During surgery, tracheal tube dilated the narrowed portion. After surgery, the tracheal tube was removed under bronchofiberscopic observation without any problems. Tracheal stenosis was observed by chest X-ray after surgery, but he had no complaints.     

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the anticipated difficult airway: a case report and systematic review

While extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an effective method of oxygenation for patients with respiratory failure, further refinement of its incorporation into airway guidelines is needed. We present a case of severe glottic stenosis from advanced thyroid carcinoma in which gas exchange was facilitated by veno-arterial ECMO prior to achieving a definitive airway. We also conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases, using the keywords “airway/ tracheal obstruction”, “anesthesia”, “extracorporeal”, and “cardiopulmonary bypass” to identify reports where ECMO was initiated as the a priori method of oxygenation during difficult airway management.Thirty-six papers were retrieved discussing the use of ECMO or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for the management of critical airway obstruction. Forty-five patients underwent pre-induction of anesthesia institution of CPB or ECMO for airway obstruction. The patients presenting with critical airway obstruction had a range of airway pathologies with tracheal tumours (31%), tracheal stenosis (20%), and head and neck cancers (20%) being the most common. All cases reported a favourable patient outcome with all patients surviving to hospital discharge without significant complications.While most practitioners are familiar with the fundamental airway techniques of bag-mask ventilation, supraglottic airway use, tracheal intubation, and front-of-neck airway access for oxygenation, these techniques have limitations in managing patients with pre-existing severe airway obstruction. The use of ECMO should be considered in patients with severe (or near-complete) airway obstruction secondary to anterior neck or tracheal disease. This approach can provide essential tissue oxygenation while attempts to secure a definitive airway are carried out in a controlled environment.     

气管切除术麻醉及手术方式探讨

目的探讨不同气管疾病气管切除的麻醉和手术方式。方法回顾性分析18例气管切除手术的临床资料,分析麻醉和手术方法的选择及其与结果的关系。结果局部麻醉(局麻)气管切开插管麻醉2例,经气管造口插管麻醉2例,体外循环2例,气管插管全身麻醉12例,全组无麻醉和手术死亡。局部切除3例,节段性切除15例,气管切除最长8,0cm。节段性切除后一期吻合8例．记忆合金网二期成形人工气管7例,人工气管长度3．0—5．0cm。随访5个月-8年,4例因肿瘤等原因分别死于术后4,11及12个月,其余均生存。结论气管切除的麻醉与手术方式因人而异,高危患者可以体外循环,或者局麻下气管切开插管;开胸后切开气管或右主支气管,行左主支气管插管是有效、安全的麻醉方法。全身状况差者可仅行局部切除,切除气管小于5cm者可行节段性切除一期吻合,大于5.5cm者,可以用记忆合金网二期成形人工气管重建气管缺损。     

Anesthesia for a patient with severe tracheal stenosis due to thoracic aortic aneurysm

Tracheobronchial compression is a well-recognized complication of thoracic aortic aneurysm. We describe the anesthetic management of a patient with severe tracheal stenosis due to thoracic aortic aneurysm. An 81-year-old woman was scheduled for endovascular aortic stent graft placement. Computed tomographic (CT) scans showed that the narrowest diameter of the trachea was 3 x 18 mm. Awake fiberoptic intubation was selected for anesthesia induction, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was ready to be established prior to induction of anesthesia. We successfully inserted ID 6.0 mm spiral tube beyond the tracheal compression using bronchoscope and induced hypotension. The operation was completed successfully without any adverse events. We conclude that, in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, careful attention should be paid not only to circulation but to respiration.     

Anesthetic management with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (VV-ECMO) in a patient with severe tracheobronchial stenosis

We conducted an anesthetic management to perform tracheostomy and tracheolysis in a 33 year-old female with severe stenosis extending to the lower trachea and right main bronchus. The minimal diameter of the stenotic lesion of the trachea was 3 mm according to the preoperative examinations including tomography, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Since there was a high risk of airway collapse during anesthetic induction that could have made ventilation impossible, we decided to apply VV-ECMO to support gas-exchange prior to anesthetic induction. Blood gas analysis showed good results, and sufficient oxygenation and stable circulation were achieved during surgical procedures. Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl could provide adequate depth of anesthesia during surgery and rapid recovery with good spontaneous respiration after the termination of the infusion. VV-ECMO was a useful method to support gas-exchange in a case not requiring circulatory assistance without uneven oxygenation sometimes observed in VA-ECMO.     

A case of thyroid carcinoma required the incision of the thyroid cartilage for inserting the silicone T tube after extensive tracheal resection and reconstruction

A 57-year-old female with thyroid carcinoma, who had developed tracheal stenosis, underwent extensive tracheal resection and reconstruction. After the tracheal sleeve resection 5.2 cm in length, primary tracheal reconstruction was performed. Although complication did not occur at the anastomotic site, the patient had dyspnea due to cord dysfunction by bilateral recurrent nerve paralysis. After 20 days transnasal intubation we reoperated to perform a tracheostomy under neck incision. But the reconstructed trachea was too short to pull out from the mediastinum. In order to insert the silicone T tube, the incision of thyroid cartilage must be done and vocal cords were injured. The patient inserting the T tube through the laryngeal stoma had no dyspnea and no aspiration about two years after the operation in spite of palliative operation. It seemed likely that the trouble that tracheostomy could not be done would occur in some patients who had undergone extensive tracheal resection and reconstruction. But the insertion of silicone T tube through the laryngeal stoma provided a satisfactory result for airway problem.     

Anesthetic management of a patient with tracheal neurofibroma

A 43-year-old man with neurofibromatosis and tracheal neurofibroma of the mid-trachea and respiratory difficulty was brought to the operating room for tracheostomy. After talking to the surgeons and viewing the computerized axial tomography, tracheal intubation was done under local anesthesia. Then, general anesthesia was provided for biopsy and debulking of the tumor, followed by tracheostomy. The patient had a number of surgeries later and the trachea was decannulated.     

Resection of thyroid carcinoma infiltrating the trachea.

We have treated surgically 11 patients with thyroid carcinoma that had infiltrated into the trachea. Three patients had primary tumours, and eight had recurrent tumours after previous operations. Sleeve resection of trachea was performed where thyroid carcinoma had proliferated; the trachea was reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis. In two patients 10 rings of the trachea were resected. In three patients the anterior half of the cricoid cartilage was resected along with the cervical trachea. In one patient tracheoplasty was performed using partial extracorporeal circulation because severe tracheal stenosis prevented endotracheal intubation. Two of the 11 patients died from the surgery and one from disseminated metastases. One patient who had undergone tracheal resection for thyroid carcinoma three years and five months previously had a recurrence of the tumour in the trachea adjacent to the anastomosis, and a second tracheal resection was performed. In three patients postoperative laryngeal stenosis occurred. Five patients are alive and well two years and one month to four years and seven months after their operations. The histological pattern of the tumour was papillary adenocarcinoma in all 11 patients.     

Anesthetic management of a patient in whom one-lung ventilation occurred due to an incorrectly positioned stent

Stents are inserted for severe stenosis of the trachea owing to malignant tumors, but an incorrectly positioned stent can cause airway obstruction. Here, we report the anesthetic management of a patient undergoing removal of an incorrectly positioned stent. A 56-year-old man had a stent inserted in the trachea for stenosis caused by a tumor. One month later, he was scheduled for reinsertion of a stent for tracheal stenosis owing to growth of the tumor, but the stent was inserted in the left main bronchus interfering ventilation to the right lung. Therefore, removal of the stent under general anesthesia was scheduled. As the stent was to be removed from an incision in the cricoid, we had to maintain deep anesthesia to maintain immobility, keeping spontaneous respiration in case we could not ventilate during surgery. Since inhaled anesthetics are insufficient to maintain deep anesthesia, we anesthetized the patient with an intravenous anesthetic, sevoflurane and continuous propofol infusion. Propofol allows spontaneous respiration better than opioids. With this method we were able to anesthetize the patient maintaining spontaneous respiration and oxygenation with stable vital signs during surgery.     

气管切除与人工气管重建手术25例麻醉方法分析

目的 分析讨论气管切除吻合或人工气管替代等手术的麻醉方式和结果.方法 对采用不同手术方式治疗的25例气管良、恶性疾病患者的麻醉和手术过程进行了回顾性分析.其中良性疾病患者10例,恶性疾病患者15例.全组患者气管管腔均有不同程度的狭窄,严重者伴有明显呼吸困难.气管病变长度2.0～7.5cm.气管切除最长者8 cm,行一期吻合者14例,行人工气管替代者7例.该组患者采用单纯全身麻醉气管插管者13例,同时行心肺转流者2例;经已有的气管切开行全身麻醉者8例,在局部麻醉下行气管切开后全身麻醉者2例;行高频喷射通气辅助者2例.气管切断后,均需经远端气管或对侧主支气管内插管维持麻醉和通气.结果 全组患者均顺利完成手术,无麻醉和手术死亡.2例患者于气管切开后向左主支气管插管困难,1例患者向左主支气管插管过深,仅余左下肺通气,造成血氧饱和度下降;1例患者术毕改换无气囊导管时造成吻合口裂开;均经处理后好转.结论 气管手术麻醉风险高,个性化、周密的麻醉和手术方案以及麻醉医师与手术医师的密切配合,是保证麻醉和手术安全的关键.     

Resection of tracheal carcinoma using partial cardiopulmonary bypass--report of a case]

A 43-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of stridor and dyspnea. Bronchoscopy revealed a tumor obstructing almost the whole lumen of the trachea. As it was impossible to insert an endotracheal tube into the distal site of the stenosis in the mediastinum, we used partial cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain gas exchange. The axillary artery and the femoral artery and vein were cannulated for the bypass using local anesthesia. During 105 minutes of bypass, the PaO2 value was good but the PaCO2 value increased up to 70 mmHg. After the trachea was opened, the anesthetic gas was administered across the operative field through the endotracheal tube and the cardiopulmonary bypass was discontinued. Tracheolaryngectomy and permanent tracheostomy with relocation to the right and caudal side of the brachiocephalic artery was performed successfully. The post operative course was very smooth. The patient has been well for 6 months since the surgery. Partial cardiopulmonary bypass proved to be useful for maintaining gas exchange during reconstructive surgery of the trachea. We treated a case of tracheal carcinoma by resection while using partial cardiopulmonary bypass. We believe this is the ninth such case reported Japanese literature.     

Anesthetic management for placement of tracheobronchial stents in patients with airway stenosis

We report the anesthetic management for stents placement in patients with tracheobronchial stenosis. The subjects were 6 patients with lung cancer and one patient with tracheal invasion of esophageal cancer. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and vecuronium, and maintained with propofol and vecuronium. After intubation, tracheostomy was performed. The patients were kept apnic during insertion of stents. Three patients had dynamic stents inserted from tracheostomy site and one orally. Three patients had Dumon stents inserted orally, but the procedure in one patient was cancelled because her stent could not be placed at appropriate position. We recommend the anesthetic management through the tracheostomy site for the placement of Dumon tubes or dynamic stents.     

A case of subglottic tracheal stenosis following tracheostomy successfully treated with laryngo-tracheal anastomosis]

A 77-year-old male patient underwent laryngo-tracheal anastomosis for subglottic tracheal stenosis. He developed exertional dyspnea 10 month after tracheostomy. Anterior and lateral wall of the cricoid cartilage and the first two tracheal cartilages were resected, preserving the recurrent laryngeal nerves. The distal trachea was anastomosed to the thyroid cartilage primarily and tracheostomy was made at 6th tracheal ring. Postoperatively, anterior flexion of the neck was maintained for a week. Oral intake was started on the 2nd postoperative day. The patient showed smooth recovery. The important points of this operation are: 1) preoperative evaluation of the residual subglottic space, 2) intraoperative care for preservation of the recurrent nerves, especially at the lateral sides of the crycoid cartilage, and 3) postoperative maintenance of the cervical anterior flexion.     

An unusual cause of trachael stenosis

PURPOSE: To report a large chronic tracheal foreign body, causing tracheal stenosis in an 11-yr-old girl. CLINICAL FEATURES: The history was suggestive of obstructive airways disease with secondary bronchiectasis. Physical findings were crepitations and rhonchi all over the chest. Blood gases were normal. Chest X-ray showed bronchiectasis and a ventilation perfusion scan identified a tracheo-esophageal fistula. During anesthesia to confirm this, intubation and ventilation were difficult because of tracheal stenosis. The hypoventilation resulted in severe hypercarbia and acidosis. A subsequent CT scan showed a stenosis of 2 mm diameter and 1 cm length in the middle third of trachea, bronchiectasis, and an air filled pocket between the trachea and esophagus. PFT showed a severe obstruction. Antitubercular treatment which was started on the presumptive diagnosis of tuberculous stenosis and tracheoesophageal fistula caused a delay with deterioration of patient from intermittent dyspnea to orthopnea with severe hypecarbia and acidosis. The anesthetic management of the tracheal reconstruction was difficult due to her moribund condition even after medical treatment, the short length of the trachea above the obstruction, its severity and lack of resources for alternative techniques. A large foreign body was found lying obliquely in the trachea dividing it into an anterior narrow airway mimicking a stenosed trachea, and a wider posterior blind passage. CONCLUSION: The anesthetic consequences were peculiar to the unexpected etiology of the stenosis and poor general condition of the patient. Minor details like the tracheal tube bevel and ventilatory pattern became vitally important.     

氟骨症性颈椎管狭窄症手术的麻醉管理

目的探讨氟骨症性颈椎管狭窄症手术的麻醉特点及管理方法。方法对2009年2月～2014年3月5例氟骨症性颈椎管狭窄症的麻醉管理进行总结。2例术前颈椎活动严重受限,改良Mallampati分级Ⅲ级,考虑可能为困难气管插管,清醒表面麻醉下行纤维支气管镜引导气管插管;余3例为非困难气管插管,行快速诱导直视下Macintosh喉镜气管插管。结果5例均安全度过围术期,无死亡。1例因呼吸功能不全,术后转入ICU病房,次日拔管;余4例术后转入PACU拔管。术后均无麻醉相关并发症,顺利出院。结论氟骨症性颈椎管狭窄症患者困难气道发生率高,气道管理是围术期麻醉管理的核心问题。     

Dexmedetomidine for anesthetic management of anterior mediastinal mass

Anesthetic management of anterior mediastinal masses (AMM) is challenging. We describe the successful anesthetic management of two patients with AMM in which dexmedetomidine was used at supra-sedative doses. Our first case was a 41-year-old man who presented with a 10 × 9 × 11 cm AMM, a pericardial effusion, compression of the right atrium, and superior vena cava syndrome. He had severe obstruction of the right mainstem bronchus, distal trachea with tumor compression, and endobronchial tumor invasion. Our second case was a 62-year-old man with tracheal and bronchial obstruction secondary to a recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer mediastinal mass. Both patients were scheduled for laser tumor debulking and treatment of the tracheal compression with a Y-stent placed through a rigid bronchoscope. Both patients were fiberoptically intubated awake under sedation using a dexmedetomidine infusion, followed by general anesthesia (mainly using higher doses of dexmedetomidine), thus maintaining spontaneous ventilation and avoiding muscle relaxation during a very stimulating procedure. The amnestic and analgesic properties of dexmedetomidine were particularly helpful. Maintaining spontaneous ventilation with dexmedetomidine as almost the sole anesthetic could be very advantageous and may reduce the risk of complete airway obstruction in the anesthetic management of AMMs.     

Severe glottic stenosis in a parturient with ectodermal dysplasia

Airway stenosis in pregnancy is challenging and the literature does not offer consensus regarding its evaluation and anesthetic management. A 21-year-old nulliparous woman with ectodermal dysplasia and severe glottic stenosis was referred to the obstetric anesthesia team for evaluation and peripartum management recommendations. She had a history of a congenital complete glottic web that required a tracheostomy at birth. After decannulation at age four, she was lost to follow-up. On examination in early pregnancy, she was found to have a dangerously narrow airway with fixed vocal cords and a glottic aperture of 2-3mm. At nine weeks of gestation an elective tracheostomy was performed under local anesthesia. She later underwent an uneventful cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Ultimately, early interdisciplinary planning for an elective tracheostomy helped assure patient safety during advancing pregnancy and delivery.     

The surgical treatment of congenital tracheal stenosis —A report of two cases—

Two patients with congenital tracheal stenosis, one who had segmental type stenosis and the other who had extensive type stenosis, were surgically treated at our hospital. The patient with segmental tracheal stenosis was successfully treated by resection and anastomosis. Five years postoperatively, although she was asymptomatic, endoscopic examination revealed a circumferential stricture with an inner diameter of about 3 mm in the upper trachea. A second operation was thus performed to remove the stenotic trachea and her postoperative course was uneventful. The second patient was a male whose extensive tracheal stenosis was associated with vascular ring and tracheal bronchus. Division of the vascular ring was not effective and a tracheoplasty using costal cartilage was performed twice, also unsuccessfully. He is now managed with a tracheostomy, using a long endotracheal tube which was specially designed for him. A recent bronchoscopy revealed a flaccid distal trachea. In this report, we also discuss the technical problems associated with treating congenital tracheal stenosis.     

Elective extracorporeal support for complex tracheal reconstruction in neonates

BACKGROUND: Congenital obstructive anomalies of the trachea present unique challenges in reconstruction and perioperative airway management. Complications include anastomotic breakdown, leak and granulation formation related to the complexity of the repair, and difficulties with perioperative airway management. We describe our technique of elective intraoperative and postoperative extracorporeal support to improve surgical exposure and postoperative healing. METHODS: We have performed complex tracheal reconstructions in 4 newborns (2.2 to 4.3 kg) for long segment tracheal stenosis and complete tracheal rings, diagnosed with bronchoscopy and computerized tomography. Three of the 4 infants had other significant anomalies including complex congenital heart disease, hydrocephalus, encephalomalacia, left lung agenesis, facial anomalies, vertebral anomalies, and hand and hip anomalies. The repairs were performed through a median sternotomy using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit for support. Venoarterial support was used for the sliding tracheoplasty reconstruction. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was converted to venovenous for postoperative "airway rest." After diuresis, the lungs were reexpanded and the 4 patients were ventilated and removed from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at 4, 5, 8, and 9 days postoperatively. Bronchoscopy was performed to evaluate the airway. RESULTS: All patients had excellent healing of the trachea without granulation tissue. There were no complications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support or bleeding issues. All 4 patients survived the surgery and immediate postoperative period with 2 late deaths. The child with congenital heart disease expired after 8 weeks after having hepatorenal failure develop. The child with Goldenhar's syndrome and a single left lung died after 5 months in the hospital. The other 2 patients survived. Two of the infants required late tracheostomy for facial and laryngeal anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation provides an excellent environment for complex tracheal reconstruction and promotes postoperative healing by minimizing trauma to the reconstructed airway.