Caracterización de estenosis traqueal por intubación prolongada en pacientes adultos / Characterization of tracheal stenosis by prolonged Intubation in adult patients

La estenosis traqueal es la disminución del calibre de la luz laríngea y traqueal como resultado de la maduración de tejido cicatrizal por lesión isquémica que el balón del tubo endotraqueal produce sobre las mucosas de la pared laringo traqueal cuando es insuflada por encima de la presión capilar (20-30 mm Hg) por un periodo incluso corto. La Asociación Americana de Cuidados Respiratorios recomienda que se utilice intubación para aquellos pacientes que ameriten ventilación mecánica por 7-10 días o menos y traqueostomía para aquellos pacientes que necesitan ventilación por más tiempo. Objetivo: Caracterizar la estenosis traqueal por intubación prolongada. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo que incluyó pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de estenosis traqueal por intubación mayor de 7 días en el Hospital General San Juan de Dios durante enero 2016 a diciembre 2019. Se evaluaron los datos epidemiológicos, clínicos, diagnóstico y terapéuticos en los registros clínicos de los servicios de cirugía torácica, otorrinolaringología y neumología. Resultados: Se evaluaron 52 pacientes adultos con intubación traqueal prolongada que desarrollaron estenosis traqueal. La mayoría son hombres jóvenes con mediana de intubación de dos semanas, la indicación de intubación más frecuente fue por trauma craneoencefálico severo. La forma de diagnóstico más frecuente fue clínico seguido por radiografía y tomografía teniendo en su mayoría estenosis tipo I y II. La mayoría de los pacientes con estenosis traqueal son tratados de manera quirúrgica, comúnmente con traqueostomía, dos semanas después del primer día de intubación. La única variable asociada al tipo de tratamiento fue que se le realizara al paciente una traqueotomía, la cual fue la forma de tratamiento quirúrgico de la mayoría de los pacientes para la corrección de la estrechez traqueal (p=0.01). Conclusiones: el tiempo de intubación endotraqueal es determinante para el desarrollo de la estenosis traqueal. En este estudio se documentaron 52 pacientes que recibieron intubación traqueal prolongada y desarrollaron estenosis traqueal tras una mediana de intubación de dos semanas, lo cual deberá hacernos reflexionar sobre las prácticas y guías para implementar la realización de traqueostomías tempranas en pacientes ventilados después de 7 días (AU)

Tracheal stenosis is the decrease in the caliber of the laryngeal and tracheal lumen as a result of the maturation of scar tissue due to ischemic injury that the balloon of the endotracheal tube produces on the mucosa of the laryngo-tracheal wall when it is insufflated above capillary pressure (20-30 mm Hg) for an even short period. The American Association for Respiratory Care recommends that intubation be used for those patients who require mechanical ventilation for 7-10 days or less and tracheostomy for those patients who require ventilation for longer. Objective: To characterize tracheal stenosis due to prolonged intubation. Methodology: A descriptive, retrospective study was carried out that included adult patients with a diagnosis of tracheal stenosis due to intubation greater than 7 days at the San Juan de Dios General Hospital from january 2016 to december 2019. Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data were evaluated in the clinical records of the thoracic surgery, otorhinolaryngology and pulmonology services. Results: 52 adult patients with prolonged tracheal intubation who developed tracheal stenosis were evaluated. Most are young men with a median intubation of two weeks, the most frequent indication for intubation was for severe head trauma. The most frequent form of diagnosis was clinical followed by radiography and tomography, mostly type I and II stenosis. Most patients with tracheal stenosis are treated surgically, commonly with a tracheostomy, two weeks after the first day of intubation. The only variable associated with the type of treatment was that the patient underwent a tracheostomy, which was the form of surgical treatment for most patients to correct the tracheal narrowing (p = 0.01). Conclusions: endotracheal intubation time is decisive for the development of tracheal stenosis. In this study, 52 patients who received prolonged tracheal intubation and developed tracheal stenosis after a median intubation of two weeks were documented, which should make us reflect on the practices and guidelines for implementing early tracheostomies in patients ventilated after 7 days

Prevalence and Characteristics of Tracheal Lesions Observed in Tracheostomized Patients.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of tracheal lesions observed in flexile bronchoscopies of tracheostomized patients, and to determine those factors associated with severe injuries. METHODS: This is an analytical, observational, and transversal study. The flexible bronchoscopies of tracheostomized patients from our database were reviewed to assess their lesions. The tracheal lesions were classified according to their severity; lesions obstructing above 50% of the lumen were interpreted as severe and those obstructing <50% as mild. The lesions were also classified according to location as glottic, subglottic, at the level of the tracheal ostomy, tracheal, and bronchial. The types of lesions found were granuloma, stenosis, and excessive central airway collapse. Possible predictors of severe lesions were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 414 patients were included in the study, the mean age being 65 years (±16.2 y). Of all the bronchoscopies assessed, 202 (49%) showed mild lesions, and 91 (22%) were severe. We found granulomas in 230 patients (55%), and 32 (26%) were severe. Of the 27 patients with stenosis (7%), 17 (63%) were severe. Excessive central airway collapse was seen in 120 patients (31.8%), and 65 (54%) were severe. There were statistically significant differences related to age in the group that developed severe lesions (mean age, 73 y; Q1 to Q3, 58 to 81) compared with the group free of lesions (mean age, 69 y; Q1 to Q3, 55.7 to 75; P = 0.001) and also in the duration requiring an artificial airway (mean, 84.5 d; Q1 to Q3, 49 to 135.5) compared with the group free of lesions (mean of 59.5 d; Q1 to Q3, 42 to 98; P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of tracheal lesions, mainly subglottic granulomas. Age and the duration for which the patient required an artificial airway were related to the presence of severe lesions.

Clinical and polysomnographic findings of patients with large goiters: polysomnographic findings of large goiters.

INTRODUCTION: Goiters cause a series of compressive symptoms, including dyspnea and dysphagia. There have been reports of the coexistence of this syndrome with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of OSA in a group of patients with goiters. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with a mean age of 52.7 ± 12.7 years, including five males (20.8 %) and 19 (79.2 %) females, who were diagnosed with euthyroid goiters with volumes exceeding 100 ml were consecutively selected. The protocol consisted of sleep questionnaires, physical examinations, and baseline polysomnography measurements. Patients were divided into two groups, OSA and NOSA (no OSA), and all findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the studied patients, 70.8 % had OSA (p = 0.004). Regarding clinical parameters, age (p = 0.001), Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores (p = 0.039) and complaints of habitual snoring (p < 0.001) had higher values in the OSA group. Regarding physical examination parameters, body mass index (p = 0.012), neck circumference (p = 0.009) and the presence of tracheal compression (p = 0.021) had higher values in the OSA group. The polysomnographic parameters that were significantly different between the two groups were the greater apnea and hypopnea index per hour of sleep (p < 0.001) and the lower minimum oxyhemoglobin saturation in the OSA group (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of OSA in patients with goiters. The main findings that were associated with the presence of OSA are known clinical predictors of OSA and the presence of tracheal compression.

[Incidence and endoscopic characteristics of airway injuries associated endotracheal intubation in children]. / Incidência e caracteristicas endoscópicas de lesões das vias aéreas associadas à intubação traqueal em crianças.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the incidence and endoscopic characteristics of airway injuries in children submitted to intubation. METHODS: During a two-year period (October/1999-October/2001) we conducted a prospective study in which all patients that required intubation, excluding those who deceased before extubation and newborns (NB) weighing less than 1.250 g, were submitted to airway endoscopy at extubation. The endoscopic findings were classified as minor, moderate or severe. Descriptions were made through proportions and medians, comparisons were done through chi-square for proportions. RESULTS: We studied 61 NB and 154 children. In 89.8%, 55 NB and 138 children (P=0.89), it was detected at least one lesion in a total of 507. Patients with minor lesions were 54.8% (IC95%: 48.1-61.5), those with moderate were 24.2% (IC95%: 18.5-30.0) and severe injury occurred in 10.7% (IC95%: 6.6-14.8). Lesions at the glottis (48.1% of lesions) and subglottis (35.1%) presented the highest incidence. Erosions had the highest incidence in both age groups (P=0.88). Vocal folds edema was the main moderate lesion in both groups (P=0.96), followed by ulcerations (P=0.92). Fibrous nodules at vocal folds and adhesions were the main severe injuries in both groups (P=0.12). Subglottic stenosis was detected in 2.8% of the patients without difference between groups (P=0.35). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high incidence of airway injury, without statistical significant difference between age groups in regard to the incidence and characteristics of the injuries. Minor injury was detected in the majority of the population. Lesions were mainly noticed at the glottis and were characterized by erosions, edema and ulcerations.

Incidência e características endoscópicas de lesões das vias aéreas associadas à intubação traqueal em crianças / Incidence and endoscopic characteristics of airway injuries associated with endotracheal intubation in children

OBJETIVO: Descrever a incidência e características endoscópicas de lesões das vias aéreas em crianças submetidas à intubação. MÉTODOS: Durante o período de dois anos (outubro/99 a outubro/01) foi conduzido estudo prospectivo no qual todo paciente intubado, excetuando-se aqueles que evoluíram para óbito e recém-nascidos (RN) com peso inferior a 1.250g, foi submetido à endoscopia respiratória na extubação. Achados endoscópicos foram classificados em leves, moderados ou graves. Descrições foram realizadas por meio de proporções e medianas, comparações feitas por teste qui-quadrado para proporções. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 61 RN e 154 crianças. Em 89,8 por cento dos pacientes, sendo 55 RN e 138 crianças (p=0,89), foi detectada pelo menos uma lesão somando 507. Pacientes com lesões leves corresponderam a 54,8 por cento (IC95 por cento: 48,1-61,5), aqueles com lesões moderadas foram 24,2 por cento (IC95 por cento: 18,5-30,0) enquanto as graves ocorreram em 10,7 por cento dos pacientes (IC95 por cento: 6,6-14,8). Locais principalmente acometidos foram glote (48,1 por cento das lesões) e subglote (34,9 por cento das lesões). Erosões foram as mais incidentes em ambos os grupos etários (p=0,88). Edema de prega vocal foi a principal lesão moderada em ambos os grupos (p=0,96), seguida por ulcerações (p=0,92). Nódulos fibrosos em pregas vocais e sinéqüias foram as principais lesões graves em ambos os grupos etários (p=0,12). Estenose subglótica foi detectada em 2,8 por cento da população sem diferença entre as faixas etárias (p=0,35). CONCLUSÕES: Verificou-se elevada incidência de lesões em vias aéreas, sem diferença significante entre os grupos etários com relação à incidência e características das lesões. Houve predomínio de lesões leves, lesões na glote e caracterizadas por erosões, edema e ulcerações.

Estenosis laringotraqueal / Laryngotracheal stenosis

The authors reviewed 39 cases of Laryngotracheal stenosis diagnosed in the last 15 years. Etiologic factors, management and resultas were analized. Patients age ranged from 1 month to 63 years old, 16 of them were females and 23 were males. Prolonged endotraqueal intubation was the most common cause, followed by tracheostomy. The subglottic airway was involved in the majority of the patients. Endotracheal intubation was prolonged over 5 days in 63,5% of the cases; 22.7% of the patients develped symptomatic laryngotracheal stenosis around 30 days after extubation. Surgical treatment was performed in 61.5% of the cases; a variety of techniques were used; in this group the decannulation rate was 79%. Expectant observation was the management for 11 patients, withh a decannulation rate of 40%. Endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy and laryngoytracheal stenosis management aspects were analysed