Tratamiento de la estenosis traqueobronquial con prótesis: factores de buena respuesta / Treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis with stents: good response factors

OBJETIVO: Determinar predictores de buena respuesta con el uso de prótesis en la estenosis traqueobronquial. MATERIALES Y MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo de una serie de casos entre junio de 2014 y junio de 2016. Se revisaron registros clínicos, protocolos operatorios, estudios histopatológicos y de imagen. Se consignaron antecedentes demográficos y clínicos al ingreso y luego del procedimiento, etiología de la estenosis traqueal, necesidad de oxígeno en litros, estadía hospitalaria, morbilidad asociada al procedimiento, indicación de terapia complementaria posterior y sobrevida. Se analizaron los datos con estadística descriptiva y analítica. RESULTADOS: Se realizaron 68 procedimientos, en 44 pacientes, 24 mujeres, el diagnóstico principal fue estenosis traqueal con 40 casos. La etiología neoplásica fue el 88% de los casos. El Performance status (PS) de ingreso fue mayor o igual a 2 en el 68% y posterior al procedimiento disminuyó a 22% p < 0,05. En 36 casos los pacientes requerían al menos 1 L de oxígeno lo que disminuyó en 13 casos posterior a la intervención p < 0,05. El tiempo de hospitalización promedio fue 6,2 días (1-60). En 13 pacientes con patología neoplásica se indicó terapia paliativa complementaria. La morbilidad asociada al procedimiento fue de 2,9% dado por prótesis desplazada y lesión iatrogénica. La sobrevida fue de 27% a un año. CONCLUSIONES: La etiología benigna, el PS previo a la intervención menor o igual a 3, requerimiento de oxígeno de 1 litro y obstrucción tumoral menor al 70% del lumen fueron elementos de buena respuesta.

AIM: Determine good response predictors in use of stent in benign and malignant tracheobronchial stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients submitted to the procedure in the period 2014 to 2016. Clinical records, operative protocols, and histopathological and imaging studies were reviewed. Demographic and clinical data, performance status (PS) at admission and after the procedure, etiology of tracheal stenosis, need for oxygen in liters (L) Post-intervention, hospital stay, procedure-related morbidity, indication of therapy (Chemotherapy and/or Radiotherapy) and survival. Data were analyzed with descriptive and analytics statistics. RESULTS: A total of 68 procedures were performed in 44 patients, 24 women. Tracheal stenosis 40 cases were diagnosed. The malignant etiology was 88%. The admission PS was greater than or equal to 2 in 68% and 22% after the procedure. The oxygen requirements prior to the procedure were at least 1 L in 36 cases and decreased in 13 cases after the procedure. The average hospitalization period was 6.2 days (1-60). Complementary therapy was indicated in 13 patients; the morbidity associated with the procedure was 2.9%, displaced installation and iatrogenic injury. The one year survival was 27%. CONCLUSIONS: Benign etiology, el PS minor than or equal to 3, oxygen requirements prior to the procedure of 1 L and tumoral obstruction less than 75% were good response predictors in our study.

[Trans-vocal cord prostheses - preliminary experience treating benign laryngotracheal stenosis in adults]. / Sténoses laryngotrachéales bénignes de l'adulte : place des prothèses transcordales. Expérience préliminaire.

INTRODUCTION: Benign laryngotracheal stenosis is a rare pathology with multiple etiologies, the management of which is complex. This is because of the configuration and proximity of the larynx and the difficulty with surgical approaches, which are potentially mutilating, especially for the management of a benign disease. When surgery is challenging, iterative dilatations of the stricture or the fashioning of a definitive tracheotomy are therapeutic alternatives. Advances in rigid bronchoscopy and the evolution of prosthetic silicone material allow a new approach in the management of benign laryngotracheal stenosis, by placing flexible silicone prostheses which cover all the stenosis from the arytenoids to the trachea. This preliminary work aims to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, tolerance and complications of the implementation of this type of prosthesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective single-centre study which analyzed the records of patients with symptomatic benign laryngotracheal stenosis who underwent placement of a transcordial prosthesis over a period of three years. The prosthesis used, inserted under general anesthesia during a rigid tube interventional bronchoscopy, was either a straight silicone prosthesis or a Montgomery T-tube for those with a pre-existing tracheotomy. RESULTS: Six patients were included. Five are still alive, one patient died from a cause unrelated to the placement of the prosthesis. Four have no tracheostomy and two now have no transcordal prosthesis. The data collected on tolerance found, for three patients, two cases of minor aspiration and one case of transient cough. All patients had whispered voice dysphonia. We did not observe prosthesis migration or obstruction. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results are encouraging. Transcordal prostheses in benign laryngotracheal stenosis have a complementary or alternative role compared to surgery with a palliative or even curative objective.

Tubeless tracheal resection and reconstruction for management of benign stenosis.

BACKGROUND: We reported a tubeless tracheal resection and reconstruction for the management of benign posttracheostomy tracheal stenosis. METHODS: A 34-year-old man with stridor, severe respiratory distress, and recurrent pneumonia was referred to our attention for treatment of benign posttracheostomy tracheal stenosis. As he refused general anesthesia, the procedure was performed while he was under local anesthesia and spontaneous ventilation. RESULTS: Sedation was started with infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.7 mg/kg/min and of remifentanil 0.5 mg/kg/h; also, 40%-50% oxygen was delivered using a laryngeal mask at a rate of 3.5 mL/min. An additional dose of 2% lidocaine was injected into the surgical site during the operation to achieve an adequate level of anesthesia. A standard resection and reconstruction of trachea was carried out and no recurrence was found in the follow-up of 41 months. CONCLUSION: Tubeless tracheal surgery seems to be a feasible and safe procedure. Larger prospective series should validate our results.

Subcarinal ventilation-assisted Y-shaped stent insertion under local anesthesia for patients with complex tracheobronchial stenosis: initial clinical experience.

PURPOSE: We aimed to report our preliminary results of subcarinal ventilation-assisted Y-shaped stent insertion under local anesthesia for patients with complex lower tracheal-carinal-main bronchial complex stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven consecutive patients with lower tracheal-carinal-main bronchial complex stenosis underwent Y-shaped stent insertion under local anesthesia. During the procedure, subcarinal ventilation was performed using a 4 F angiographic catheter, and stent insertion was performed under the protection of ventilation. Data on technical success, clinical outcome, and follow-up were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Subcarinal ventilation-assisted Y-shaped stent insertion under local anesthesia was technically successful in all patients without any major procedure-related complications. Seven stents were inserted in seven patients. Respiratory function improved in all patients, with the Hugh-Jones classification of respiratory status improving from grade IV-V before stenting to grade I-II after stenting. During the follow-up, one patient experienced re-stenosis of the stent. Average survival time was 185.7 days (range, 96-285 days) after the stenting procedure. CONCLUSION: Subcarinal ventilation-assisted Y-shaped stent insertion under local anesthesia can be an effective, simple, and safe method for lower tracheal-carinal-main bronchial complex stenosis.

Tracheal resection with patient under local anesthesia and conscious sedation.

The authors describe the case of a woman with a 2-year history of dyspnea and stridor caused by a tracheal hamartoma. The patient underwent tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis under monitored local anesthesia and conscious sedation, which was achieved by boluses of ketamine and midazolam. Local anesthesia was obtained by the use of stepwise local infiltration of 2% lidocaine and 7.5 mg/mL ropivacaine during the operation. The patient remained awake during the entire procedure, thus permitting the movement of the vocal cords to be monitored. Mechanical ventilation was never required. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient did not describe having any discomfort.

Double Y-stenting for tracheobronchial stenosis.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of the double Y-stenting technique, by which silicone Y-stents are placed on both the main carina and another peripheral carina, for patients with tracheobronchial stenosis. Under general anaesthesia, using rigid and flexible bronchoscopes, a Dumon™ Y-stent (Novatech, La Ciotat, France) was first placed on the primary right or secondary left carina followed by another Y-stent on the main carina so as to insert the bronchial limb of the stent into the first Y-stent. Patients who underwent double Y-stent placement during 3 yrs and 1 month in a single centre were retrospectively reviewed. In the study period, 93 patients underwent silicone stent placement and 12 (13%) underwent double Y-stent placement (11 for right and one for left bronchus). A combination of Y-stents, 14 × 10 × 10 mm and 16 × 13 × 13 mm in outer diameter, were most frequently used. Dyspnoea was relieved in all patients. Six out of seven patients with supplemental oxygen before stent placement could be discharged without supplemental oxygen. Median survival after stenting was 94.5 days. One pneumothorax and one granuloma formation occurred. Double Y-stent placement for patients with tracheobronchial stenosis was technically feasible, effective and acceptably safe.

Uso tópico de mitomicina C como terapia coadyuvante al tratamiento quirúrgico en pacientes con estenosis traqueal / Topical use of mitomicina C as co-adjuvant therapy to the surgical treatment in patients with tracheal stenosis

INTRODUCCION: La mitomicina-c ha sido utilizada como droga coadyuvante al tratamiento quirúrgico (reconstrucción traquear con tubo en T de Montgomery) en pacientes con estenosis traqueal. La mitomicina es un antineoplásico con acción intracelular que inhibe la división celular, la síntesis proteica y la proliferación de fibroblastos, remodelando el proceso de cicatrización, disminuyendo así el riesgo de reestenosis. OBJETIVO: Determinar la eficacia clínica de la aplicación tópica de Mitomicina C en el lecho operatorio, como coadyuvante al tratamiento quirúrgico en pacientes con estenosis traqueal. DISEÑO Y METODO: Ensayo clínico, prospectivo, randomizado y con grupo control. Pacientes (N=30) con diagnóstico clínico y por fibrobroncoscopía y/o tomo gráfico de estenosis traqueal que requirieron reconstrucción traqueal con Tubo en de T de Montgomery, los cuales aleatoriamente integraron dos grupos; a uno de ellos se le aplicó mitomicina C (Grupo A: n=10) tópicamente 0.5 ml a 0.4 mg de mitomicina C por mililitro de solución salina (0.04 por ciento) por 5 minutos en el lecho operatorio, embebidos en un cotón; y al otro grupo (Grupo B n=20) sólo se aplicó solución salina en el sitio operatorio durante un tiempo similar al primer grupo. Todos los pacientes en ambos grupo salieron en el post operatorio con un stent de silicona, el cual se retiró en un periodo de 6 meses. Después de este periodo se realizó control clínico a los pacientes al primer día, al mes, a los 2 meses y 4 meses de retirado el stent, si presentaban signos de dificultad respiratoria. RESULTADOS: La eficacia en el grupo tratado con mitomicina fue de 70 por ciento y en el grupo control 40 por ciento, se utilizó el estadístico Z, determinando diferencias significativas en ambos tratamientos...

INTRODUCTION: Mitomycin-C has been used as adjuvant drugs to surgery (tracheal reconstruction with Montgomery T-tube) in patients with tracheal stenosis. Mitomycin is an antineoplastic with intracellular action that inhibits cell division, protein synthesis and fibroblast proliferation, remodeling the healing process, reducing the risk of relapse. OBJECTIVE: determine the clinical efficacy of topical application of mitomycin C in the operative site, adjuvant to surgery in patients with tracheal stenosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Clinical trial, prospective, randomized, controlled study. Patients (N=30) with clinical diagnosis and by endoscopic and / or TAC of tracheal stenosis requiring tracheal reconstruction with T tube in Montgomery, which randomly divided into two groups, one of them was applied mitomycin C (Group A: n=10) topically 0.5 ml to 0.4 mg of mitomycin C/ml of saline solution (0.04 per cent) for 5 minutes in the surgical site, embedded in a cotton, and the other group (Group B: n=20) was applied only saline solution into the operative site during a similar time to the first group. All patients in both groups left in the postoperative period with a silicone stent, which was withdrawn in a period of 6 months. After this period were controlled clinical patients to first day, month, 2 months after removing the stent 4meses, if they had signs of respiratory distress. RESULTS: The efficacy in the group treated with mitomycin was 70 per cent and in the control group 40 per cent, Z statistic was used, determining significant differences in both treatments. There were no complications in the evaluation periods. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate strong evidence that topical use of mitomycin C is safe and shows greater efficacy in the treatment of tracheal stenosis compared with conventional treatment alone.

Manejo de la estenosis traqueal / Management of tracheal stenosis

Objetivo del estudio: Proponer una nueva clasificación para la estenosis traqueal para estandarizar el manejo. Diseño: Estudio prospectivo realizado entre Octubre del 2002 y septiembre del 2005 en el Hospital San José. Pacientes: Se incluyeron 32 pacientes, 9 mujeres y 23 varones, con estenosis traqueal de etiología benigna (20 casos) y maligna (12 casos), de los cuales 4 tenían fístula traqueoesofágica. Método: Los pacientes fueron divididos en tres grupos de acuerdo a la morfología, longitud, número y localización de la o las lesiones que causaban estenosis. Según lo anterior Tipo I (7 casos; 22 por ciento), Tipo II (5 casos; 16 por ciento). Tipo III (20 casos; 62 por ciento). Intervenciones: Las estenosis Tipo I fueron tratadas mediante electrocoagulación. Las Tipo II con cirugía (resección y anastomosis traqueal termino-terminal primaria). Las Tipo III utilizando un stent dinámico. Resultados: La evolución posterior a la realización del procedimiento correspondiente a cada grupo, fue favorable, mejorando la capacidad funcional, demostrado por la realización de curva flujo-volumen y la desaparición de manifestaciones clínicas (según escala de Borg modificada) en el 69 por ciento de los pacientes, con una calidad de vida que mejora en el 100 por ciento de los casos, objetivado mediante el cuestionario de Saint-George. La mortalidad global es de 25 por ciento (8/32), no atribuible al tratamiento otorgado. Conclusiones: Consideramos que la clasificación propuesta es un método operacional, de fácil utilización, que permite planificar un tratamiento independientemente de la etiología de la estenosis traqueal, permitiendo asignar un pronóstico y mejorar calidad de vida.

Background: Tracheal stenosis is a common complication of intubation or tracheostomy. Aim: To report the experience with tracheal stenosis and propose a new classification to standardize its management. Material and Methods: Prospective study of 32 patients aged 17 to 79 years, 23 males. Twenty had a benign and 12 a malignant stenosis, four of which had tracheoesophageal fistula. Seven patients had a Type I stenosis, defined as a lesion of less than 1 cm in length, five had a type II lesion, defined as a diffuse lesion of less than 3 cm in length and 20 cases had a type III lesion defined as a stenosis of more than 3 cm, in length or multiple lesions or tracheomalacia. Patients with type I stenosis were treated with electro coagulation, those with type II lesions were subjected to a primary resection and tracheal end-to-end anastomosis and type III patients were treated using a dynamic stent. Results: Evolution after treatment was favorable with disappearance of clinical manifestations, improvement in functional capacity and modified Borg Scale score in 69 percent of the patients. Life quality and flow-volume curves improved in 100 percent of patients. Seven patients died due to progression of cancer and one committed suicide. Conclusions: The classification of tracheal stenosis in three types, depending on the morphology and extent of the lesion allows a better planning of treatment.

Palliative airway stenting performed under radiological guidance and local anesthesia.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of airway stenting performed exclusively under radiological guidance for the palliation of malignant tracheobronchial strictures. METHODS: We report our experience in 16 patients with malignant tracheobronchial stricture treated by insertion of 20 Ultraflex self-expandable metal stents performed under fluoroscopic guidance only. Three patients presented dysphagia grade IV due to esophageal malignant infiltration; they therefore underwent combined airway and esophageal stenting. All the procedures were performed under conscious sedation in the radiological room; average procedure time was around 10 min, but the airway impediment never lasted more than 40 sec. RESULTS: We obtained an overall technical success in 16 cases (100%) and clinical success in 14 patients (88%). All prostheses were successfully placed without procedural complications. Rapid clinical improvement with symptom relief and normalization of respiratory function was obtained in 14 cases. Two patients died within 48 hr from causes unrelated to stent placement. Two cases (13%) of migration were observed; they were successfully treated with another stent. Tumor overgrowth developed in other 2 patients (13%); however, no further treatment was possible because of extensive laryngeal infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheobronchial recanalization with self-expandable metal stents is a safe and effective palliative treatment for malignant strictures. Airway stenting performed exclusively under fluoroscopic view was rapid and well tolerated.

The effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in tracheal reconstruction with auricular cartilage grafts (experimental study).

PURPOSE: Tracheal stenosis or neoplastic changes, as well as, traumatic, congenital, or iatrogenic causes may require extensive tracheal resections. Complications like vascularization insufficiency and structural support problems occur nearly in all cases when end-to-end anastomosis of trachea is not feasible. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment is a well-known method for the management of grafts and flaps that have vascularization problems. In this study, the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on wound healing after tracheal reconstruction with auricular cartilage graft (ACG) has been evaluated. METHODS: Thirty-two rabbits were divided into 2 groups: study group (n = 16) and control group (n = 16). The anterior halves of the six tracheal rings were resected, and the defects were repaired with autogenic auricular grafts. Hyperbaric 100% pure oxygen was administered to the study group at 2.4 atmospheres of absolute pressure 2 times a day for 1 week. The control group did not receive any therapy except proper control of the wound. RESULTS: It was observed that in the study group, inflammation, fibrosis, and necrosis were less, whereas epithelialization and maturation were early and neovascularization and neochondrification were more than the control group only at specific weeks. But all tracheas in both groups showed excellent healing without graft rejection and excessive granulation tissue formation. Furthermore, there was no statistically difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Auricular cartilage grafts is a valuable management method of tracheal defects, and hyperbaric oxygen treatment is a good supplementary method in healing period of cartilage autografts.

[Cefepime treatment efficacy in surgical patients]. / Perspektivy ispol'zovaniia novogo tsefalosporinovogo antibiotika chetvertogo pokoleniia v khirurgii.

Clinical and bacteriologial efficacies of cefepime were studied in the treatment of 20 surgical patients. Intraoperative prophylaxis is with the use of cefepime alone and postoperative prophylaxis with the use of cefepime in combination with some other drugs were applied to 10 patients. No postoperative complications in the group of the 10 patients were stated. The other 10 patients were subjected to intraoperative and postoperative combined prophylaxis with some other antibiotics. In 6 patients of the latter group postoperative complications developed. Obvious clinical advantages of cefepime were demonstrated.

[Postintubation tracheal stenosis; problems associated with choice of management].

We experienced a case with tracheal stenosis due to postintubation damage, or so-called cuff stenosis. A 50-year-old man who attempted suicide by pounding nails into his head and chest using carpenter's tools was treated by endotracheal intubation and immediately underwent emergency surgery in July 2000. The patient was placed on artificial ventilation with oral endotracheal intubation, and a tracheostomy was performed 4 days after the operation. After that, his respiration recovered and he was weaned from the respirator. He was discharged 22 days after surgery with no respiratory symptoms. Two days after discharge, he complained of wheezing and dyspnea. Medical examination revealed that the cervical trachea had a severe circumferential stenosis 2.5 cm from the second tracheal cartilage. On retrospective inspection, the region of stenosis was compatible with the cuff site of the endotracheal tube used for the emergency operation. At first we tried nonoperative treatment, considering his mental state. However, we found that surgical treatment was ultimately necessary. A 2.5 cm sleeve resection of the trachea (5 tracheal cartilage rings) was performed, followed by end-to-end suture using 21 stitches with 4-0 MEDIFIT C thread. Pathologically, the surgical specimen showed degeneration and necrosis of tracheal cartilage with excessive growth of granulation tissue. These findings revealed that the etiologic basis of the tracheal stenosis was attributed to pressure necrosis by the cuff. The postoperative course was uneventful. Sixteen months after the surgery, the granulation tissue had not recurred, and problematic stenosis was not visible in the trachea. In this report, we discussed a reasonable management of postintubation tracheal stenosis. Tracheoplasty has been proposed as the most reliable method for treating tracheal stenosis. However, the best treatment in each case is still somewhat controversial because various nonoperative treatment methods are recently available, including laser phototherapy, argon plasma coagulation, mechanical dilatation, stent replacement, and drug treatment. Therefore, it is very important to judge properly the absolute indication for surgical treatment. If granulations are removed successfully by the above-described nonoperative methods, attempts at repair lead only to regrowth of granulation tissue as long as there is necrotic tracheal cartilage. Thus, the determinant of treatment methods is whether postintubation damage extends to tracheal cartilage or not. For now, there is no accurate diagnostic study for viability of cartilage preoperatively. In the literature, symptoms due to airway stenosis occurred rapidly within one month in the case of patients with necrosis of tracheal cartilage. We concluded that the period between extubation and development of symptoms is very informative in the management of postintubation tracheal stenosis. Surgical approaches should be selected for a patient with a rapid and progressive course after extubation when the patient can tolerate it.

Healing of a free tracheal autograft is enhanced by topical vascular endothelial growth factor in an experimental rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE: In 1996, we introduced the free tracheal autograft technique for repair of congenital tracheal stenosis from complete tracheal rings in infants and children. Sources of possible concern with this procedure include the potential for autograft ischemia, patch dehiscence, and recurrent stenosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a potent angiogenic inducer (particularly in the setting of ischemia, hypoxia, or both) and is postulated to promote tissue healing. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that pretreatment of tracheal autografts with topical vascular endothelial growth factor would enhance tracheal healing. METHODS: In a rabbit model of tracheal reconstruction (n = 32), an elliptically shaped portion of the anterior tracheal wall was excised. The excised portion of trachea was one third of the tracheal circumference and 2 cm in length (6 tracheal rings). This portion of trachea (the autograft) was soaked in either vascular endothelial growth factor (5 microg/mL, n = 16) or normal saline solution (n = 16) for 15 minutes before being reimplanted in the resultant tracheal opening. Animals were killed and autografts were examined at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months postoperatively for gross and microscopic characteristics. RESULTS: By 2 weeks, and progressing through 1 and 2 months, autografts treated with vascular endothelial growth factor, as compared with control autografts, had reduced luminal stenosis, submucosal fibrosis, and inflammatory infiltrate (P <.05). The autografts tended to become malaligned in control animals, whereas the tracheal architecture was preserved in rabbits treated with vascular endothelial growth factor. Microvascular vessel density was significantly greater in all vascular endothelial growth factor groups (P <.05) at all time intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Topical treatment of free tracheal autografts with vascular endothelial growth factor in a rabbit tracheal reconstruction model enhanced healing, as evidenced by accelerated autograft revascularization, reduced submucosal fibrosis and inflammation, and preservation of the normal tracheal architecture. Topical vascular endothelial growth factor may improve future results of tracheal reconstruction.

[Hydromassage of wound surface of surgically reconstructed laryngeal lumen and upper trachea]. / "Gidromassazh" ranevoi poverkhnosti vosstanavlivaemogo khirurgichskim putem prosveta gortani i verkhnei chasti trakhei.

In surgical reconstruction of laryngostenosis and stenosis of the upper trachea after dissection of the scars we place laryngotracheal prosthesis (LTP) in the created lumen for a year and longer. The LTP dilator prevents regrowing the scars into the larynx and trachea until termination of the wound epithelization. The author has designed a device which provides a pulsed change in the pressure of water-filled latex balloon-dilator of the LTP. This pulsed work is realized by 7-8-s sucking out water and filling again of 1/3 of water volume in the dilator. Such procedures lasting for 20-30 min conducted 2 times a day are called hydromassage of the larynx and trachea. In 7 patients subjected to hydromassage for a full time of wearing the LTP, epithelization of the wound surface of the reconstructed part of the airways occurred within 2-2.5 months. If hydromassage was performed for half the time of LTP wearing (12 patients) epithelization occurred within 3-3.5 months.

Estenosis laringotraqueal / Laryngotracheal stenosis

Se realiza una evaluación retrospectiva de los pacientes con estenosis laringotraqueal vistos por el autor en el departamento de otorrinolaringología, en los últimos 12 años. La muestra consta de 64 pacientes en los cuales se analiza la distribución por sexo, edad y causas de la estenosis laringotraqueal en la que destaca la intubación endotraqueal prolongada en un 62 por ciento de los casos, seguida por el traumatismo laringotraqueal en un 18 por ciento. Se analizan algunos aspectos del manejo de estos pacientes, agrupados en dos categorías: manejo quirúrgico y observación. Se evalúa el éxito de la terapia en base al porcentaje de pacientes que logran decanularse posterior al tratamiento y al tiempo en que dicha decanulación puede realizarse. Finalmente se realiza una revisión de la literatura acerca del tema, haciendo hincapié en la prevención de la estenosis laringotraqueal, atacando directamente las causas que mayormente inciden en su producción, como es la intubación endotraqueal prolongada

CO2 laser repair of permanent tracheostomy stricture.

We present our experience in treating postlaryngectomy patients with respiratory disturbance caused by stricture of the permanent stoma by CO2 laser surgery. Laser surgery is a simple procedure that can be performed with the patient under local anesthesia without bleeding and with minimal damage to the adjacent strictures resulting in a minimal postoperative edema and contracture. In our opinion the CO2 laser is a useful surgical tool for enlargement of the airway lumen and for improvement of respiratory disturbance in postlaryngectomy patients with stomal stricture, and this procedure should be considered for treatment of selected patients.

Intraoperative radiation therapy, endotracheal hyperthermia and IR-192-brachytherapy in patients with advanced thyroid cancer.

Tracheal stenosis due to infiltrative nonresectable thyroid cancer causes severe reduction in life quality. Palliative therapy, apart from tracheostomy is--up to now--intraluminal and/or external radiation. Good tumor control is achieved by local hyperthermia. A combined modality treatment (CMT) consisting of surgery, brachytherapy and intraoperative radiation, eventually combined with intraluminal NdYg-Laser-desobliteration was performed. An intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)-protocol was designed for poorly differentiated non-anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Out of 155 cases of differentiated thyroid tumors, 12 showed marked vascular and/or capsular invasion. Five entered the study (3 primarily local invasive tumors, 2 local recurring). IORT was administered after tumor surgery (4-10 Gy) and combined with postoperative percutaneous irradiation. The tumor control rate in the thyroid bed is 5/5, 1/5 developed mediastinal nodes, 1/5 with primary mediastinal tumor extend shows tumor progression. No specific complications occurred.

Insertion of a self-expandable endotracheal metal stent using topical anaesthesia and a fibreoptic bronchoscope: a comfortable way to offer palliation.

A self-expandable stent was used to obtain prolonged relief of stridor resulting from tracheal obstruction by extrinsic tumour compression despite prior external irradiation. The stent was inserted in an easy and comfortable procedure with fibreoptic bronchoscopy under local anaesthesia.