Application of modified spiral tracheoplasty in thyroid carcinoma with trachea invasion: a retrospective analysis of 15 cases.

BACKGROUND: To describe the indications, techniques and preliminary experience of modified spiral tracheoplasty in the reconstruction of large tracheal defect after thyroidectomy. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent tracheal torsion to repair large tracheal defects after thyroid carcinoma surgery from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The extent of tracheal defect, duration of tracheal reconstruction, postoperative complications and surgery results were analyzed. RESULTS: The duration of tracheal reconstruction was 30-60 min. No postoperative bleeding, incision infection, tracheostomy stenosis occurred. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in 5 patients. All patients were followed up for 24 to 60 months. The 2-year overall survival rate was 100%, the 2-year local control rate of trachea was 100%, and the 2-year tumor-free survival rate was 81.8%. CONCLUSION: The modified spiral tracheoplasty is a safe and effective method to repair the large defect of trachea after thyroid carcinoma invading the trachea.

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis surgery for benign tracheal stenosis, over a 10-year period.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngotracheal stenosis encompasses a diverse range of diagnoses, encompassing complete or partial narrowing of various subgroups of the upper airways, including the laryngeal structures and trachea, due to pathological scar formation. This increasingly prevalent pathology is of significant importance due to its potential for life-threatening consequences. Among the defined treatment modalities, tracheal resection and end-to-side anastomosis remain a valuable therapeutic alternative in appropriate indications. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis at our clinic over the past decade. MATERIAL & METHOD: All patients who underwent tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis surgery for benign tracheal stenosis at the Department of Otolaryngology, Mustafa Kemal University Hospital between 2013 and 2023 were included in the study. The diagnosis of tracheal stenosis was based on endoscopic examination and computed tomography results. Interventions without postoperative symptoms and without the need for additional surgical intervention were considered successful. The study was approved by Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Ethics Committee with decision number 2023/27. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 26.48 years. 3 patients (10.35 %) had a comorbidity. In all patients orotracheal intubation or intubation and tracheotomy was the aetiological cause. There were no intraoperative complications. In the postoperative period, wound infection was observed in 3 patients (10.35 %) and subcutaneous emphysema in 2 patients (6.9 %). In 1 patient (3.45 %) recurrent respiratory distress was observed, restenosis was considered and tracheotomy was performed. Our complication rate was 20.69 %. When all patients were evaluated at the end of the postoperative follow-up period, the surgical success rate was calculated to be 96.55 %. CONCLUSION: With a surgical success rate of 96.55 % and a low complication rate in our study, we believe, in parallel with previous studies, that open surgery is a reliable, physiologically appropriate and successful method among the current treatments for tracheal stenosis.

Swallowing outcomes after tracheal resection and anastomosis: full versus mini infrahyoid laryngeal drop.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheal resection anastomosis has been established as the definitive surgery for high grade postintubation subglottic stenosis. To achieve a relaxed tension-free anastomosis, various laryngeal release techniques were discussed in literature with potential effect on postoperative swallowing dysfunction. This study aims to compare the difference in swallowing outcomes following two methods of infrahyoid laryngeal release: with and without fracture of the superior thyroid horns. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out at our tertiary referral hospitals including cases with grade III and IV subglottic stenosis treated by partial crico-tracheal resection with thyro-tracheal anastomosis. The patients were divided into two groups according to the method used in laryngeal release; mini infrahyoid release (group A) or infrahyoid full release (group B) where full means with fracture of the superior thyroid horn bilaterally while mini means their preservation. Swallowing assessment preoperatively and postoperatively was done by comparing swallowing dysfunction symptoms, Gugging swallowing screen (GUSS) score and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) according to penetration aspiration scale (PAS). RESULTS: A total of 71 patients were included; 46 in Group A and 25 in Group B. Clinical swallowing evaluation one week postoperatively showed statistically significant difference between the two groups being affected in 80.04% and 100% of patients in group A and B, respectively. The mean postoperative GUSS were 18 ± 1.32 in group A patients in comparison to 8.84 ± 5.18 in group B (p-value < 0.001). With FEES assessment, group A had full improvement of their swallowing abilities one month after the surgery while patients in group B had significantly lower PAS scores. Unfavourable scores for both the GUSS test and PAS were associated with increasing patients' age in group B. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective cohort study, cases with mini infrahyoid laryngeal release had significantly better swallowing outcomes and full resolution of dysphagia in comparison to full laryngeal release. Also, full laryngeal release is associated with delayed resolution of swallowing difficulty in older patients. This point should be considered during preoperative patient selection and counselling.

[Improving surgical technique for tracheal resection with anastomosis]. / Usovershenstvovanie khirurgicheskoi tekhniki pri rezektsii lineinoi chasti trakhei s posleduyushchim anastomozom.

OBJECTIVE: To present modern aspects of improving surgical techniques in tracheal resection developed in recent years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors have the most extensive experience in tracheal surgery (>2.000 patients over the past 50 years). Diagnostic capabilities, perioperative management and surgical techniques have changed over such a long period. This concerns the proposed classification of cicatricial tracheal stenosis, features of endoscopic and X-ray diagnostics, indications for various surgeries, choice of surgical approach, technique of tracheal tube mobilization and anastomosis after tracheal excision. Preventive measures for severe postoperative complications are described. CONCLUSION: Such an extensive experience allowed the authors to develop an algorithm for the treatment of patients with tracheal stenosis. This significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality. Replication of such equipment is associated with technical support of hospitals and professional level of specialists consisting of endoscopist, anesthesiologist, intensive care specialist and thoracic surgeon.

[Thoracoscopic tracheal resection in a child under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation]. / Torakoskopicheskaya rezektsiya trakhei u rebenka v usloviyakh ekstrakorporal'noi membrannoi oksigenatsii.

Congenital tracheal stenosis in children is a rare, severe and life-threatening respiratory tract malformation characterized by respiratory failure. We have performed 74 surgical interventions in these patients under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between 2013 and 2022. In this article, we present surgical treatment of a newborn with congenital tracheal stenosis. For the first time in the world, the patient underwent thoracoscopic resection and reconstruction of the trachea under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Tracheal resection and primary reconstruction on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Cross-table ventilation during tracheal resection via posterolateral thoracotomy presents a technical challenge. With the ubiquity of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO), there is now a safe and feasible alternative for intraoperative respiratory support. Airway surgery on ECMO avoids prolonged periods of apnea or single lung ventilation, allowing patients with poor lung function to undergo surgery. Image-guided femoro-femoral cannulation using a low-dose heparin protocol minimizes the risk of bleeding while uncluttering the surgical field. By eliminating the need to constantly reposition the endotracheal tube, visualization is improved, and the rhythm of the case is maintained, which can shorten the anastomotic time. Here, we present a case where venovenous ECMO and total intravenous anesthesia were used to completely support a patient undergoing major tracheal surgery without the need for cross-table ventilation.

Successful management of a difficult airway in a case of advanced thyroid cancer.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy of the head and neck region. It makes up to 80% of all thyroid cancers, and has a 10-year survival rate of up to 95%. Differentiated thyroid carcinomas have good prognosis after a complete surgical extirpation as long as it is not associated with invasion of the surrounding structures. The advanced papillary thyroid carcinoma can invade the neighbouring structures of the thyroid gland, such as strap muscles, recurrent laryngeal nerve, trachea, oesophagus, larynx, pharynx, and carotids. Whenever papillary thyroid carcinoma is associated with invasion of aerodigestive tract it is difficult to excise the tumour. We report a patient with stage IV invasive papillary thyroid carcinomas as per Shin Staging system. The surgery was deferred from several hospitals considering the advanced stage of the disease with tracheal extension making it a problematic airway for both the anaesthesiologist and the operating surgeon. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy, modified radical neck dissection, tracheal resection, and primary anastomosis. Successful intubation was done with video laryngoscopy. Intermittent apnoea technique was used for ventilation during the repair of posterior tracheal wall. The patient was extubated on the table and shifted to the recovery room. The histopathologic diagnosis was reported as papillary thyroid carcinoma classic variant with tracheal invasion.

[Cicatricial tracheal stenosis in elderly and senile patients: immediate and long-term results of treatment]. / Rubtsovyi stenoz trakhei v pozhilom i starcheskom vozraste: neposredstvennye i otdalennye rezul'taty lecheniya.

OBJECTIVE: To present treatment outcomes in elderly and senile patients with cicatricial tracheal stenosis (CTS) and features of their perioperative management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 46 elderly and senile patients with CTS. We analyzed their gender and age, body mass index, etiology, extent and degree of stenosis, comorbidity index and ASA grade, postoperative complications according to TMM grading system. RESULTS: Age of patients varied from 61 to 95 years (mean 66.38±8.65). Post-intubation stenosis was detected in 7 (15.2%) patients, post-tracheostomy CTS - in 39 (84.8%) patients (2 (4.3%) ones with tracheoesophageal fistula and 18 (39.1%) ones with tracheomalacia). CTS length ranged from 8 to 65 mm. The causes of invasive mechanical ventilation were traumatic brain and spinal trauma in 6 cases, emergency surgery in 11 cases and therapeutic diseases in 29 cases. CTS of cervical trachea was found in 21 patients, subglottic larynx and cervical trachea - 8 patients, cervical and upper thoracic trachea - 12 patients, thoracic segment - 3 patients, multifocal lesions - 2 patients. The Charlson index ranged from 5 to 12 points. ASA grade II was observed in 8 (17.4%) patients, III - 28 (60.9%), IV - in other ones. Circular resection was performed in 5 patients, laryngotracheoplasty - in 37 patients. CTS repair and tracheoesophageal fistula closure with laryngotracheoplasty were carried out in 2 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 18 (39.1%) patients, mortality was 2.17%. In 21.7% of cases, complications were associated with tracheal suture. Endoscopic procedures, cryosurgery and hyperbaric oxygenation were used for correction. Good and satisfactory treatment outcomes were achieved in 86.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of CTS in elderly and senile patients requires participation of interdisciplinary team with special experience. Laryngotracheoplasty is safe and effective in these patients, and indications for circular resection are still limited.

[Surgical management of tracheal anastomosis failure and risk of arterial bleeding]. / O khirurgicheskoi taktike pri nesostoyatel'nosti trakheal'nogo anastomoza i ugroze arrozionnogo krovotecheniya.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal algorithm for tracheal anastomotic insufficiency and prevention of arterial bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present 2 patients with defects of tracheal anastomosis after tracheal resection and divergence of tracheal edges. We primarily analyzed appropriate emergency care and prevention of subsequent severe complications such as arterial bleeding and respiratory insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Tracheostomy may be preferable for complete late tracheal anastomotic insufficiency to restore breathing. However, surgery should be accompanied by prevention of arterial bleeding. Isolation of damaged area, particularly tracheostomy tube, from the mediastinum by well-vascularized tissues can prevent bleeding from major vessels (for example, innominate artery). Follow-up is unreasonable due to worsening of clinical situation, risk of hemorrhagic complications and fatal outcomes. General satisfactory clinical status of the patient is not of matter. Repeated tracheal anastomosis is justified only for early insufficiency, i.e. within 2-3 days when postoperative inflammation is mild.

[Treatment of cicatricial tracheal stenosis and tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia]. / Lechenie rubtsovogo stenoza trakhei i trakheopishchevodnogo svishcha u bol'nykh, perenesshikh COVID-19-pnevmoniyu.

OBJECTIVE: To describe treatment of cicatricial tracheal stenosis and tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 91 patients with cicatricial tracheal stenosis for the period from August 2020 to April 2022 (21 months). Of these, 32 (35.2%) patients had cicatricial tracheal stenosis, tracheoesophageal fistula and previous coronavirus infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Incidence of iatrogenic tracheal injury following ventilation for viral pneumonia in the pandemic increased by 5 times compared to pneumonia of other genesis. Majority of patients had pneumonia CT grade 4 (12 patients) and grade 3 (8 patients). Other ones had pulmonary parenchyma lesion grade 2-3 or mixed viral-bacterial pneumonia. Isolated tracheoesophageal fistula without severe cicatricial stenosis of trachea or esophagus was diagnosed in 4 patients. In other 2 patients, tracheal stenosis was combined with tracheoesophageal fistula. Eight (25%) patients had tracheostomy at the first admission. This rate was almost half that of patients treated for cicatricial tracheal stenosis in pre-pandemic period. RESULTS: Respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 1-7 months after discharge from COVID hospital. All patients underwent surgery. In 7 patients, we preferred palliative treatment with dilation and stenting until complete rehabilitation. In 5 patients, stent was removed after 6-9 months and these ones underwent surgery. There were 3 tracheal resections with anastomosis, and 2 patients underwent tracheoplasty. Resection was performed in 3 patients due to impossible stenting. Postoperative course in these patients was standard and did not differ from that in patients without viral pneumonia. In case of tracheoesophageal fistula, palliative interventions rarely allowed isolation of trachea. Four patients underwent surgery through cervical approach. There were difficult surgeries in 2 patients with tracheoesophageal fistula and cicatricial tracheal stenosis. One of them underwent separation of fistula and tracheal resection via cervical approach at primary admission. In another patient with thoracic fistula, we initially attempted to insert occluder. However, open surgery was required later due to dislocation of device. CONCLUSION: Absolute number of patients with tracheal stenosis, tracheoesophageal fistula and previous COVID-19 has increased by several times compared to pre-pandemic period. This is due to greater number of patients requiring ventilation with risk of tracheal injury, non-compliance with preventive protocol for tracheal injury including anti-ischemic measures during mechanical ventilation. The last fact was exacerbated by involvement of allied physicians with insufficient experience of safe ventilation in the «red zone¼, immunodeficiency in these patients aggravating purulent-inflammatory process in tracheal wall. The number of patients with tracheostomy was 2 times less that was associated with peculiarity of mechanical ventilation in SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, tracheostomy was a poor prognostic sign and physicians tried to avoid this procedure. Incidence of tracheoesophageal fistula in these patients increased by 2 times compared to pre-pandemic period. In subacute period of COVID-associated pneumonia, palliative measures for cicatricial tracheal stenosis and tracheoesophageal fistula should be preferred. Radical treatment should be performed after 3-6 months. Absolute indication for circular tracheal resection with anastomosis is impossible tracheal stenting and ensuring safe breathing by endoscopic methods, as well as combination of cicatricial tracheal stenosis with tracheoesophageal fistula and resistant aspiration syndrome. Incidence of postoperative complications in patients with cicatricial tracheal stenosis and previous mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia and patients in pre-pandemic period is similar.

Apnoeic oxygenation with high-flow oxygen for tracheal resection and reconstruction surgery.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal resection and reconstruction are the most effective treatments for tracheal stenosis, but the difficulties are surgery and maintaining ventilation performed on the patient's same airway. High-flow oxygen has begun to be applied to prolong the apnoea time in the tracheal anastomosis period for tracheal resection and reconstruction. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of apneic conditions with high-flow oxygen as the sole method of gas exchange during anastomosis construction. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 16 patients with tracheal stenosis, with ages ranging from 19 to 70, who underwent tracheal resection and reconstruction from April 2019 to August 2020 in 108 Military Central Hospital. During the anastomosis phase using high flow oxygen of 35-40 l.min-1 delivered across the open tracheal with an endotracheal tube (ETT) at the glottis in apnoeic conditions. RESULTS: The mean (SD) apnoea time was 20.91 (2.53) mins. Mean (SD) time anastomosis was 22.9 (2.41) mins. The saturation of oxygen was stable during all procedures at 98-100%. Arterial blood gas analysis showed mean (SD) was hypercapnia and acidosis acute respiratory after 10 mins of apnoea and 20 mins apnoea respectively. However, after 15 mins of ventilation, the parameters are ultimately returned to normal. All 16 patients were extubated early and safely at the end of the operation. There were no complications, such as bleeding, hemothorax, pneumothorax, or barotrauma. CONCLUSION: High-flow oxygen across the open tracheal under apnoeic conditions can provide a satisfactory gas exchange to allow tubeless anesthesia for tracheal resection and reconstruction.

A New Approach in Airway Management for Tracheal Resection and Anastomosis: A Single-Center Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of the use of laryngeal mask airways (LMA) as an alternative form of airway management for surgical tracheal reconstruction. DESIGN: A prospective case series. SETTING: At a single German university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients. INTERVENTIONS: The use of LMA for airway management in surgical reconstruction of the trachea. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ten patients with tracheal stenosis of 50% to 90% were enrolled prospectively during the study period. The airway management consisted of the insertion of an LMA. During resection and reconstruction, high-frequency jet ventilation was used. Several arterial blood gas analyses (ABG) were performed before, during, and after the tracheal resection and reconstruction. All values were presented as median and interquartile ranges or as absolute and relative values, and no emergency change to cross-field intubation was necessary. The lowest PaO2 was 93 mmHg in 1 patient after 20 minutes of jet ventilation, whereas PaO2 increased after the induction phase and remained stable in 9 patients. There were no intraoperative complications related to anesthetic management apart from transient hypercarbia during and after jet ventilation. Preoperative and postoperative ABG were comparable. One patient required immediate postoperative ventilatory support. Two patients developed postoperative pneumonia, leading to their admission to the intensive care unit. One patient was operated with a palliative approach due to massive dyspnea and died in the next postoperative course. CONCLUSIONS: The use of LMA is an alternative option in airway management for tracheal reconstruction, even in patients with significant tracheal stenosis. Potential advantages compared to tracheal intubation are unimpaired access to the operative field and the lack of stress on the fresh anastomosis.

Tracheal Stenosis After Prolonged Intubation Due to COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate the characteristics and management outcomes of patients who developed tracheal stenosis after invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) due to COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The data of 7 patients with tracheal stenosis and 201 patients without tracheal stenosis after IMV due to COVID-19 between March 2020 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. INTERVENTIONS: Flexible bronchoscopy was performed for the diagnosis of tracheal stenosis and the evaluation of the treatment's effectiveness, and rigid bronchoscopy was applied for the dilatation of tracheal stenosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In the follow-up period, tracheal stenosis was observed in 7 of 208 patients (2 women, 5 men; 3.3%). The patients were divided into 2 groups as patients with tracheal stenosis (n = 7) and patients without tracheal stenosis (n = 201). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities (p > 0.05). The mean duration of IMV of the patients with tracheal stenosis was longer than patients without tracheal stenosis (27.9 ± 13 v 11.2 ± 9 days, p < 0.0001, respectively). Three (43%) of the stenoses were web-like and 4 (57%) of them were complex-type stenosis. The mean length of the stenoses was 1.81 ± 0.82 cm. Three of the patients were treated successfully with bronchoscopic dilatation, and 4 of them were treated with tracheal resection. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheal stenosis developed in 7 of 208 (3.3%) patients with COVID-19 who were treated with IMV. The most important characteristic of patients with tracheal stenosis was prolonged IMV support.

Surgical management of tracheal chondrosarcoma.

Background: Tracheal chondrosarcoma is an extremely rare, slow-growing, malignant tumour. This study aims to analyze the cases of tracheal chondrosarcoma published in the literature and our case report, in order to better define tracheal chondrosarcoma management.Methods: A systematic review of the English literature was carried out for fully described tracheal chondrosarcoma cases. Additionally, we reported a new case of a 58-year-old man undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction for tracheal chondrosarcoma.Results: To date, 30 cases were published. This tumour predominantly involved male patients (93%; median age: 65 years), generally conditioning dyspnoea and cough. Most of the patients underwent tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis, without recurrence (median follow-up: 2 years). Tumours endoscopically treated recurred in half cases.Conclusion: Tracheal resection is the treatment of choice for chondrosarcoma, with an excellent prognosis. Endoscopic treatment and/or radiotherapy should be indicated for patients unfit for surgery.

Tracheal resection and modified T-tube in the treatment of benign tracheal stenosis. A retrospective study of 48 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to prove efficiency of tracheal resection in the cohort of patients of our clinic and to introduce our own modification of T-cannula as a surgical alternative if tracheal resection is contraindicated. BACKGROUND: Benign tracheal stenosis, the most often represented by post tracheostomy (PTTS) and post intubation (PITS) stenosis, is a rare, but serious and potentially life-threatening medical condition. We present our experience with the management of the patients, who were referred with a benign tracheal stenosis. METHODS: In the retrospective study, patient's outcome was evaluated after tracheal resection or treatment with T-cannula from all the patients presented with a benign tracheal stenosis from January 2015 to January 2021. RESULTS: The cohort consists of forty-eight patients. Thirty-one (64,6 %) patients underwent a tracheal resection and seventeen (35,4 %) were treated with tracheostomy and T-tube insertion. In the series of patients after tracheal resection, we observed no mortality, complications occurred in ten (32,2 %) patients. They were spread proportionally; anastomotic complications were noticed in 5 (16,1 %) patients, as well as non-anastomotic complications. CONCLUSION: Tracheal resection is a safe and effective procedure with good results. T- tube insertion presents a surgical alternative if bronchoscopy is unavailable or failed (Tab. 4, Fig. 2, Ref. 20).

[Treatment of post-intensive care tracheal stenosis after previous covid-19 pneumonia]. / Lechenie postreanimatsionnykh rubtsovykh stenozov trakhei posle perenesennoi koronavirusnoi pnevmonii Covid-19.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze postoperative outcomes and perioperative management of patients with post-intensive care tracheal stenosis and previous COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 8 patients with post-intensive care tracheal stenosis and previous COVID-19 pneumonia aged 34-61 years between January 2021 and April 2021. Lung damage CT-3 was observed in 2 (25%) patients, CT-4 - in 5 (62.5%) patients. In one case, COVID-19 pneumonia with lung damage CT-2 joined to acute cerebrovascular accident. Post-tracheostomy stenosis was detected in 7 (87.5%) cases, post-intubation stenosis - in 1 patient. Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation ranged from 5 to 130 days. In 75% of cases, tracheal stenosis was localized in the larynx and cervical trachea. Two patients admitted with tracheostomy. In one case, an extended tracheal stenosis was combined with atresia of infraglottic part of the larynx. One patient had tracheal stenosis combined with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Length of tracheal stenosis was 15-45 mm. Tracheomalacia was observed in 4 (50%) patients. All patients had severe concomitant diseases. RESULTS: To restore airway patency, we used circular tracheal resection with anastomosis, laryngotracheoplasty and endoscopic methods. Tracheal resection combined with TEF required circular tracheal resection with disconnection of fistula. Adequate breathing through the natural airways was restored in all patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Three patients with baseline tracheal stenosis had favorable postoperative outcomes after circular tracheal resection. Four patients are at the final stage of treatment after laryngotracheoplasty and tracheal stenting. CONCLUSION: Patients after invasive mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia are at high risk of cicatricial tracheal stenosis and require follow-up. Circular tracheal resection ensures early rehabilitation and favorable functional results. Laryngotracheoplasty is preferred if circular tracheal resection is impossible. This procedure ensures adequate debridement of tracheobronchial tree and respiratory support. Endoscopic measures are an alternative for open surgery, especially for intrathoracic tracheal stenosis and intractable tracheobronchitis.

[Treatment of laryngotracheal and tracheal cicatricial stenosis: 10-year experience]. / Lechenie trakheogortannykh i trakheal'nykh rubtsovykh stenozov.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 10-year experience of treating the cicatricial tracheal stenosis (CTS) in a regional multi-field hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 120 CTS patients aged 13-75 years. In 8 (6.7%) patients, CTS was combined with tracheoesophageal fistula (TPF). Post-intubation stenosis was diagnosed in 16 (13.3%) cases, post-tracheostomy - in 102 (85%) ones, post-traumatic - in 2 (1.7%) patients. CTS length ranged from 1.2 to 8 cm. Fifty (41.7%) patients had cervical CTS, 40 (33.3%) patients - cervico-thoracic tracheal stenosis, 11 (9.2%) patients - tracheal stenosis at the thoracic level. Nineteen (15.8%) patients had multifocal stenoses. We used endoscopic techniques, circular tracheal resection (CTR) and laryngotracheal reconstruction. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality rate was 0.83%. CTR was performed in 33 patients, laryngotracheal reconstruction - 77, endoscopic stenting - 6 patients. In 4 cases, local CTS was eliminated by bougienage and argon plasma exposure. CTS was successfully disconnected with TEF using CRT in 3 cases, laryngotracheoplasty and stenting - in 5 cases. The fenestrated tracheal defect was closed by a three-layer autologous flap in 59 patients. Of these, autologous flap was reinforced with porous nickel-titanium implants in 17 patients. Postoperative complications after CRT occurred in 6 (16.7%) patients (anastomotic leakage - 2, anastomositis - 1, restenosis - 2). No patients died. Postoperative complications after laryngotracheal reconstruction were observed in 18 (23.4%) patients including 5 ones with restenosis who underwent CTR with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: CTS treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Each surgery has certain indications and place in treatment algorithm. CTR is highly effective, but may be accompanied by complications associated with tracheal anastomosis. Decrease of postoperative morbidity will improve immediate and long-term results of CTS treatment. The chosen treatment algorithm ensured good and satisfactory results in 98% of patients.

[Post-tracheostomy cicatricial tracheal stenosis with postoperative total sternal instability in a patient with severe concomitant cardiac disease]. / Posttrakheostomicheskii rubtsovyi stenoz trakhei v sochetanii s posleoperatsionnoi total'noi nestabil'nost'yu grudiny u bol'noi s tyazheloi sochetannoi kardial'noi patologiei.

Treatment of cicatricial tracheal stenosis combined with postoperative sternal instability is a difficult objective. A 53-year-old patient with multiple previous tracheostomies and compensated tracheal stenosis underwent surgical correction of congenital heart disease in childhood. Heart failure progression occurred in 2017. The patient was examined. Mitral and tricuspid valve defect was diagnosed. Mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the right atrium were scheduled. To provide anesthesia, the patient underwent repeated tracheostomy that was complicated by atrial fibrillation. After stabilization of clinical condition, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty with radiofrequency ablation were performed. Postoperative period was complicated by cicatricial tracheal stenosis and total chest instability. A two-stage surgical treatment including circular tracheal resection with anastomosis and repeated sternal osteosynthesis with a titanium implant was performed. This approach ensured favorable functional outcome. In these patients, treatment strategy cannot be standardized and requires a personalized approach together with appropriate surgical experience.

[Surgery of primary tracheal tumors]. / Khirurgiya pervichnykh opukholei trakhei.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the main forms of primary tracheal cancer (PTC), to specify the indications for various surgeries in these patients depending on extent and localization of lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 263 PTC patients. Benign tumors were diagnosed in 68 (25.9%) patients, malignancies - in 195 (74.1%) cases. Tracheal cancer includes 3 basic morphological variants - adenocystic cancer (49.7%), carcinoid (18.7%) and squamous cell carcinoma (19.0%). Other forms of malignancies were much less common. We applied endoscopic intraluminal and open surgeries. In malignant PTC, open surgeries were performed in 165 (84.6%) out of 195 patients. Baseline palliative endoscopic treatment was performed in 30 patients. They underwent airway recanalization (with subsequent tracheal stenting in 19 patients). Endoscopic resection was preferred for benign tumors. RESULTS: Twenty (12.1%) patients died after open surgery, and 1 (3.3%) patient died after endoscopic procedure. Most lethal outcomes occurred in early years of development of tracheal surgery. The causes of mortality were tracheal anastomotic failure in 12 patients, pneumonia in 6 patients, and arterial bleeding in 2 patients. Severe postoperative period was observed in all 3 patients after tracheal replacement with a silicone prosthesis. Long-term treatment outcomes depended on morphological structure of PTC. Favorable results were observed in patients with neuroendocrine tumor (carcinoid), worse outcomes in adenocystic cancer and unfavorable results in squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.0013). Five-year survival rates were 75%, 65.6%, and 13.3%; 10-year survival rates were 75%, 56.2%, and 13.3%, respectively. These outcomes after combined treatment of primary tracheal cancer were significantly better compared to lung cancer (p<0.05 when compared to global data). CONCLUSION: Treatment of primary tracheal cancer should be based on classical principles of modern oncology (combined therapy, tumor resection with lymphadenectomy). Open and endoscopic interventions are justified. PTC is characterized by more favorable outcomes compared to lung cancer. It is difficult to analyze long-term results in tracheal cancer depending on various features of tumor process due to small number of observations. Accurate conclusions require multiple-center studies, preferably with international participation, which can convincingly prove certain concept.

[A non-standard approach in the treatment of post-traumatic multifocal cicatricial tracheal stenosis with atresia of subglottic larynx, involvement of vocal cords and 33-year cannulation]. / Nestandartnyi podkhod v lechenii posttravmaticheskogo mul'tifokal'nogo rubtsovogo stenoza trakhei s atreziei podskladochnogo otdela gortani, vovlecheniem golosovykh svyazok i 33-letnim kanyulenositel'stvom.

The report presents a case of non-standard two-stage treatment of post-traumatic multifocal cicatricial tracheal stenosis with atresia of subglottic larynx, involvement of vocal cords, and 33-year cannulation. At the first stage, bougienage through a tracheostomy, endoscopic argon plasma exposure, circular tracheoglottic resection with tracheostomy and 3/4 circle anastomosis, formation of a laryngotracheostomy with endoprosthetics were applied simultaneously. The second step was to eliminate the extensive fenestrated tracheo-laryngeal defect using titanium nickelide reinforcing implants. The individual algorithm made it possible to successfully eliminate complex tracheo-laryngeal stenosis with long-term cannulation and demonstrate excellent long-term treatment results.