Use of Helium/Oxygen Mixture in Noninvasive Ventilation During Urgent Tracheotomy for Upper Airway Compression: A Case Report.

Ventilation or oxygenation can be difficult or even impossible in cases of upper airway obstruction. In this case report, we used a helium/oxygen mixture administered via noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation to perform an urgent tracheotomy under local anesthesia on a patient presenting upper airway compression. It improved his comfort and his stridor, facilitating supine positioning. This case describes another potential indication of the helium/oxygen mixture in noninvasive ventilation.

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.

Comparison of intubation and tracheotomy in patients with deep neck infection.

Possible airway compromise further complicates treatment of deep neck infections (DNI). Airway management is crucial, but factors affecting the method of choice are unclear. We retrospectively evaluated adult DNIs in a single tertiary center covering 10 years, with special attention on airway management. Patient data were retrieved from electronic data files from 2007 to 2016, and included adult patients with DNI operated through the neck. Of the 202 patients, 127 (63%) were male, with a median age of 47 years. Odontogenic (n = 74; 35%) infection was the most common etiology. Intubation was the most common method of airway management (n = 165; 82%), and most patients (n = 102; 50%) were extubated immediately after surgery. Tracheotomy was performed primarily for 35 (17%) patients, and secondarily for 25 (15%). Two patients were managed in local anesthesia. Altogether 80 (40%) patients required care in the intensive care unit for a median of 7 days. Median hospital stay was 6 days for intubated patients and 10 days for primarily tracheotomized (p = 0.036). DNI extended to the mediastinal space in 25 (12%) patients, most of whom with odontogenic infection (48%), and necrotizing fasciitis (32%). Odontogenic infection was the most common etiology for DNI with increased risk for mediastinal involvement. Intubation was most common type of airway management with high success in immediate extubation after surgery. The need for tracheotomy seemed to lead to a longer hospital care and was associated with a more severe clinical course.

Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax during emergency tracheotomy under spontaneous ventilation: Macklin meets Müeller? / Neumomediastino y neumotórax en la traqueotomía urgente en ventilación espontánea. Cuando Macklin encontró a Müeller

Potentially serious complications associated to emergency tracheotomy continue being a matter of concern. We review the pathogenesis of gas leakage in this setting and discuss about the possible mechanisms involved in its cause. We present two cases of pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax in the context of emergency tracheotomy under spontaneous ventilation, finally resolved by chest drainage. The combination of overly negative pleural pressures due to extreme inspiratory efforts in the context of an almost completely obstructed airway together with over-pressurized alveoli because of gaseous entrapment secondary to serious expiratory obstruction appears to be the most plausible primary cause of air leaks in our patients. Understanding the underlying mechanisms evolved in its production will help clinicians to suspect and diagnose this phenomenon (AU)

Las complicaciones graves asociadas a la traqueotomía urgente continúan siendo un desafío clínico. En este trabajo revisamos y discutimos la fisiopatología de la fuga aérea en el contexto de la traqueotomía urgente. Presentamos dos casos de neumomediastino, enfisema subcutáneo y neumotórax en el curso de sendas traqueotomías urgentes realizadas sobre pacientes en ventilación espontánea que se resolvieron tras inserción de drenaje pleural. Nuestra conclusión es que la combinación de presiones pleurales inspiratorias muy negativas por el esfuerzo inspiratorio contra una vía aérea obstruida junto con la presencia de alveolos hiper-presurizados por el atrapamiento gaseoso espiratorio constituyen la base etiopatogénica del proceso. La comprensión de los mecanismos que subyacen en la generación del neumotórax y neumomediastino en este contexto facilitará que los clínicos sospechen y diagnostiquen el cuadro (AU)

An alternative method of management of pediatric airway foreign bodies in the absence of rigid bronchoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric airway foreign body aspiration is a life-threatening clinical entity. The standard of care for managing this situation is endoscopic retrieval using rigid bronchoscopy. However in resource-limited settings rigid bronchoscopy may not be available. This retrospective case series describes the successful application of one treatment modality for pediatric airway foreign body. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for seven pediatric patients who were treated at Soddo Christian Hospital with a diagnosis of airway foreign body aspiration. All patients were treated in the operating room using general anesthesia, a combination of inhaled halothane and intravenous ketamine. Paralytics were not used in any patient and spontaneous breathing was maintained. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was initially performed on each patient to confirm the presence of a foreign body and identify the anatomic position with the airway. Using a standard technique, a tracheotomy was performed. If the foreign body was still noted to be distal to the tracheotomy, postural percussion was performed to dislodge the foreign body into the trachea. Once the foreign body was identified at the tracheotomy, it was removed. RESULTS: All seven patients presented in respiratory distress and were emergently managed in the operating room. The average age was 2.8 years (6 months-8 years of age). The foreign bodies were successfully removed in all patients. There were no mortalities and all patients were successfully discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric airway foreign body aspiration is a life-threatening clinical entity in any setting, but it presents unique challenges in resource-limited settings where rigid bronchoscopy is not available. This report presents one such treatment modality and utilizes a combination of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy and tracheotomy to treat such patients.

Role of tracheal resection in thyroid cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide a critical review of recent literature on the role of tracheal resection in thyroid cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: The current body of literature is centered on the controversy regarding how radical the extent of tracheal resection needs to be to achieve long-term control of thyroid carcinoma with tracheal invasion. Proponents of shave excision are guided by the reported survival outcomes comparable to segmental resections in a selected group of patients. Others believe that all patients should have a segmental sleeve resection to ensure clearance of transmural disease. Recent advances in microsurgical reconstruction may allow selected patients to undergo tracheal resection when a large tracheal defect is anticipated. SUMMARY: Tracheal invasion by well differentiated carcinoma is a marker of a more aggressive tumor behavior, defining a subpopulation of patients at a greater risk of recurrence and death. The goal of surgical intervention in this scenario is complete resection with no gross residual disease. A well designed prospective multi-institutional trial, taking into account depth of invasion, risk group stratification, histology, presence of distant metastasis, radioactive iodine trapping ability, adjuvant treatment, and long-term survival data, is needed to compare the outcomes following more conservative shave excision and segmental tracheal resection.

An official ATS clinical policy statement: Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: genetic basis, diagnosis, and management.

BACKGROUND: Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is characterized by alveolar hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation. PURPOSE: (1) To demonstrate the importance of PHOX2B testing in diagnosing and treating patients with CCHS, (2) to summarize recent advances in understanding how mutations in the PHOX2B gene lead to the CCHS phenotype, and (3) to provide an update on recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of patients with CCHS. METHODS: Committee members were invited on the basis of their expertise in CCHS and asked to review the current state of the science by independently completing literature searches. Consensus on recommendations was reached by agreement among members of the Committee. RESULTS: A review of pertinent literature allowed for the development of a document that summarizes recent advances in understanding CCHS and expert interpretation of the evidence for management of affected patients. CONCLUSIONS: A PHOX2B mutation is required to confirm the diagnosis of CCHS. Knowledge of the specific PHOX2B mutation aids in anticipating the CCHS phenotype severity. Parents of patients with CCHS should be tested for PHOX2B mutations. Maintaining a high index of suspicion in cases of unexplained alveolar hypoventilation will likely identify a higher incidence of milder cases of CCHS. Recommended management options aimed toward maximizing safety and optimizing neurocognitive outcome include: (1) biannual then annual in-hospital comprehensive evaluation with (i) physiologic studies during awake and asleep states to assess ventilatory needs during varying levels of activity and concentration, in all stages of sleep, with spontaneous breathing, and with artificial ventilation, and to assess ventilatory responsiveness to physiologic challenges while awake and asleep, (ii) 72-hour Holter monitoring, (iii) echocardiogram, (iv) evaluation of ANS dysregulation across all organ systems affected by the ANS, and (v) formal neurocognitive assessment; (2) barium enema or manometry and/or full thickness rectal biopsy for patients with a history of constipation; and (3) imaging for neural crest tumors in individuals at greatest risk based on PHOX2B mutation.

[Anesthesia and operative approach of resection of the trachea].

OBJECTIVE: Review and discuss anesthesia and operative approach of resection of the trachea for different tracheal diseases, especially for the resection of long-segment of trachea. At the same time to introduce the method of reconstruction of long-segment of trachea with Zhao's (two-stage procedure with memory-alloy mesh) artificial trachea. METHODS: Retrospective study of 18 cases of tracheal resection, analysis of the relation between the choice of anesthetic and operative approach. RESULTS: General anesthesia through cut open the trachea with local anesthesia in 2 cases, general anesthesia through previous tracheotomy in 2 cases, extracorporeal circulation in 2 cases, general anesthesia through endotracheal tube in 12 cases. There were no anesthetic or operative death. Local resection in 3 cases, segmental resection in 15 cases. The longest segmental resection was 8.0 cm. Primary anastomosis after segmental resection in 8 cases, Reconstruction with Zhao's artificial trachea in 7 cases. Postoperative follow-up was 5 months to 8 years. Four cases died from systemic metastasis or other reasons at 4, 11 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Different methods of anesthetic and operative procedures should be used for different patients. Extracorporeal circulation used for patient with highest dangerous condition, or, for which could be inserted endotracheal tube by tracheotomy with local anesthesia. Conservative local resection performed only for patients with very bad general condition. Segmental resection less than 5 cm long could be reconstructed with primary reanastomosis. Resection longer than 5.5 cm could be reconstructed with Zhao's artificial trachea.

Paradoxical vocal fold motion: presentation and treatment options.

Paradoxical vocal fold motion is a rare disorder in which adduction of the folds occurs on inspiration. The disorder presents with signs of airway obstruction and often airway distress, so proper diagnosis by the otorhinolaryngologist is critical to subsequent management. We present a retrospective review of 10 patients with the diagnosis of paradoxical vocal fold motion seen over a 6-year period. Eight patients were females, and 6 required an acute airway intervention at presentation; 3 patients eventually underwent tracheotomy for respiratory decompensation. Six patients had a prior diagnosis of asthma, and this was determined to contribute to their respiratory status. Five patients were treated with botulinum toxin and 2 with flexible nasolaryngoscopic biofeedback, which improved the outcome. A review of the literature confirms a female predominance of patients presenting with paradoxical adduction and airway distress, often with a history of asthma and psychopathology. Our experience with botulinum toxin and biofeedback suggests that these procedures are viable treatment options in the management of patients with this disorder.

Minitracheotomy Seldinger--assessment of a new technique.

A multicentre, prospective study of 26 patients was undertaken for the assessment of insertion of minitracheotomy tubes by the Seldinger technique. The technique of insertion is described. There were two misplacements, three blockages of the inserting Tuohy needle with fat, and six cases of difficulty in passing the minitracheotomy tube.

Combined tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is rapidly becoming the preferred method of long-term enteral access with minimal complications obviating the need for prolonged nasogastric or orogastric intubation. Tracheostomy is the accepted technique for long-term airway control, especially for protection against upper airway secretions and respiratory failure. Over a 14 month period, 73 percutaneous gastrostomies were inserted in 71 patients. Nine patients (12.6 percent) had previously undergone tracheostomy, and 13 patients (18.3 percent) underwent a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy immediately after tracheostomy. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia. The concomitant percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy added little time to the total procedure and was not associated with additional complications. Early experience with percutaneous gastrostomy indicates that a substantial number of patients (30.9 percent in the present study) also required tracheostomy. The tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy combination completely frees the nasopharynx of indwelling tubes. Concomitant percutaneous gastrostomy should be considered in patients undergoing tracheostomy.