Benign multinodular goitre presenting as acute decompensated type two respiratory failure.

Acute airway obstruction is a life-threatening complication of benign goitre mostly occurring in cases of known progressing goitres. The index presentation of goitre with decompensated type two respiratory failure is an exceedingly rare and a diagnostically challenging presentation. We discuss the case of a woman in her 50 s, who had been diagnosed with asthma by her general practitioner, but during admission was found to have a large goitre with retrosternal extension causing critical tracheal compression. She presented with acute decompensated type two respiratory failure. We explore the diagnostic confounding posed by the patient's background of asthma and describe the initial management of the patient with non-invasive ventilation by the emergency department. The diagnosis of upper airway obstruction was not apparent which is an interesting anomaly in this case. She underwent an emergency hemithyroidectomy and recovered with a resolution of her respiratory symptoms. Histology confirmed benign multinodular hyperplasia.

Negative pressure pulmonary edema after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) is an acute onset of non-cardiogenic interstitial pulmonary edema, commonly seen among surgical patients after extubation from general aneasthesia. It is mainly caused by rapid inspiration with acute upper airway obstruction resulting in significant negative thoracic pressure. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 24-year-old female patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia and developed NPPE postoperatively. DIAGNOSES: Her main clinical manifestation was coughing up pink foamy sputum; postoperative CT showed increased texture in both lungs and bilateral ground glass opacities. INTERVENTIONS: Diuretics and steroids were used, and symptomatic supportive treatments such as oxygen were given. OUTCOMES: After treatment, on the fourth post-operative day, her symptoms were relieved and her vital signs were stable enough for her to be discharged. LESSONS: Although this is a rare and severe complication, the prognosis of NPPE is good when it is managed with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Epiglottic retroversion as a cause of upper airway obstruction: A case report.

RATIONALE: Epiglottic retroversion is the abnormal movement of the epiglottis to the rima glottis, resulting in blockage of inspiratory airflow. Acute upper airway obstruction caused by epiglottic retroversion can lead to sudden respiratory failure. Epiglottic retroversion has occasionally been reported in horses and dogs; however it is extremely rare in humans. Herein, we report a case of epiglottic retroversion causing recurrent upper airway obstruction in human. PATIENT CONCERNS: We present the case of a 74-year-old man who was diagnosed with epiglottic retroversion without evidence of epiglottis. The patient presented with recurrent episodes of abnormal breathing sounds and dyspnea. Inspiratory stridor was evident whenever the patient experienced dyspnea. DIAGNOSIS: Epiglottic retroversion was diagnosed as the cause of upper airway obstruction using fiber-optic bronchoscopy. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent tracheostomy to prevent acute respiratory failure because the recurrent episodes of stridor and dyspnea did not improve. OUTCOMES: The episodic dyspnea and oxygen desaturation did not relapse after tracheostomy and he could be discharged home. LESSONS: This case highlights the importance of considering epiglottic retroversion as a cause of acute upper airway obstruction.

[Bilateral stenting for malignant tracheal and bronchial stenosis]. / Bilateral'noe stentirovanie opukholevogo stenoza trakhei i glavnykh bronkhov: pervyi opyt (klinicheskoe nablyudenie).

Malignant lesions of tracheal bifurcation usually lead to respiratory failure and risk of mortality. Airway stenting is the only minimally invasive method for these patients. The authors present a patient with T4N3M0 left-sided lung cancer (inoperable stage IIIc) complicated by respiratory failure due to tracheal bifurcation obstruction. Bilateral stenting by self-expanding stents with perforated coatings was effective for airway recanalization and provided subsequent chemotherapy.

Left Main Bronchus Obstruction in a Patient with Small-cell Lung Cancer Successfully Treated with Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Lung cancer can cause fatal central airway obstruction. Rapid airway clearance is necessary in some cases, but ventilator management may be insufficient to maintain oxygenation levels. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) may be an effective rescue therapy for respiratory failure, but its efficacy in treating tumor-related airway obstruction is unknown. We herein report a case of central airway obstruction and severe acute respiratory failure due to small-cell lung cancer successfully treated with VV-ECMO, bronchoscopic airway intervention, and chemotherapy. VV-ECMO can be an effective option for the treatment of central airway obstruction with acute respiratory failure due to lung cancer.

Postmortem computed tomography imaging of negative pressure pulmonary edema induced by rice cakes: A case report.

Airway obstruction by foreign bodies or laryngospasms often results in negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE). NPPE can develop despite the removal of airway obstruction. This is well-known among clinicians, particularly anesthesiologists, emergency physicians, pediatricians, and radiologists. Computed tomography (CT) features of NPPE include diffuse central ground-glass opacities and thickening of the bronchovascular bundles and bronchial walls. NPPE can also occur after strangulation or smothering with a plastic bag, and is sometimes fatal. Nevertheless, no reports of NPPE are available in forensic journals, and forensic practitioners may not be dedicating the necessary attention to this condition. Recently, the use of postmortem CT as an auxiliary imaging modality for autopsies has increased among forensic institutions in Japan. Understanding the mechanisms and CT findings of NPPE will be useful for forensic practitioners. Herein, we present a case wherein the postmortem CT image revealed NPPE resulting from the obstruction of the airway induced by rice cakes.

Positional dyspnea due to excessive dynamic airway collapse: A case report.

RATIONALE: Excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) is a form of dynamic central airway obstruction, with characteristic of excessive dynamic invagination of airway posterior wall membrane and structurally intact airway cartilage. We report a rare case of EDAC with a marked positional component. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital owing to dyspnea in right recumbent position (RRP). Also only in RRP, strong rhonchi was auscultated bilaterally through entire respiratory phase. He had gone through 3 episodes of resections on left lung due to hemoptysis caused by bronchiectasis, so he had only segment B1 + 2 and B3 left. DIAGNOSES: The spirometry results indicated that he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The bronchoscopy revealed that in RRP, there was severe inward bulging of the posterior membrane of right main bronchus (RMB), which was worsened at expiratory phase. The EDAC of RMB was suspected, and was confirmed by an expiratory phase computed tomography (CT) in RRP. The EDAC was likely due to COPD, and the positional component was most likely to be caused by the removal of majority of his left lung. INTERVENTIONS: Considering locality of EDAC and his overall stability, he was given a conservative approach. He was prescribed with budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol for COPD and followed up. OUTCOMES: Two months later, the patient had relived dyspnea and weaker wheezing in RRP, and he had a good social and physical recovery. LESSONS: Dyspnea may present as a diagnostic challenge, and it is rarely accompanied with a positional component. EDAC is an uncommon cause of dyspnea. This case illustrates the possible role of bronchoscopy and dynamic CT in dynamic evaluation of airway.

Usefulness of new acoustic respiratory sound monitoring with artificial intelligence for upper airway assessment in obese patients during monitored anesthesia care.

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) often causes airway complications, particularly posing an elevated risk of aspiration and airway obstruction in obese patients. This study aimed to quantify the levels of aspiration and airway obstruction using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based acoustic analysis algorithm, assessing its utility in identifying airway complications in obese patients. To verify the correlation between the stridor quantitative value (STQV) calculated by acoustic analysis and body weight, and to further evaluate fluid retention and airway obstruction, STQV calculated exhaled breath sounds collected at the neck region, was compared before and after injection of 3 ml of water in the oral cavity and at the start and end of the MAC procedures. STQV measured immediately following the initiation of MAC exhibited a weak correlation with body mass index. Furhtermore, STQV values before and after water injection increased predominantly after injection, further increased at the end of MAC. AI-based analysis of cervical respiratory sounds can enhance the safety of airway management during MAC by quantifying airway obstruction and fluid retention in obese patients. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 430-435, August, 2023.

Pediatric negative pressure pulmonary edema: Case series and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) is a potentially life-threatening complication that develops rapidly following acute upper airway obstruction. The condition is rare, dramatic but resolves quickly. Prompt recognition and appropriate supportive treatment may prevent unnecessary investigations and iatrogenic complications. METHODS: We describe a spectrum of etiologies and clinical manifestation of pediatric NPPE in our center and review of previous publications. CONCLUSION: The etiology for the development of NPPE in children has shifted over the years. Although dramatic in presentation, this type of pulmonary edema often resolves quickly with minimal support.

Esophageal rupture after Heimlich maneuver: a case report and literature review.

The Heimlich maneuver (HM) is lifesaving in a patient choked by a foreign body. It is safe and effective and does not require specific instruments. Nevertheless, rare severe complications have been reported, such as traumatic injury of the gastrointestinal tract, pneumomediastinum, rib fracture, diaphragm rupture, acute thrombosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm and mesenteric laceration. Abdominal injuries are the most common complications, especially esophageal and gastric wall rupture. This anatomic site is the most common location of organ injuries, in consequence of the main target of the force generated by the HM. Furthermore, the execution of HM by an untrained person may increase the risk for possible serious complications. Usually, HM complications are treated surgically, but based on clinical conditions, a conservative approach is possible. In our report, we described a case of esophageal rupture after a forceful HM, and we made a brief revision of literature concerning HM complications. We have also assessed the correlation between HM complications, abuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the execution of the abdominal thrusts by untrained rescuers.

Ventilatory Burden as a Measure of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity Is Predictive of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality.

Rationale: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), used for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, captures only the frequency of respiratory events and has demonstrable limitations. Objectives: We propose a novel automated measure, termed "ventilatory burden" (VB), that represents the proportion of overnight breaths with less than 50% normalized amplitude, and we show its ability to overcome limitations of AHI. Methods: Data from two epidemiological cohorts (EPISONO [Sao Paolo Epidemiological Study] and SHHS [Sleep Heart Health Study]) and two retrospective clinical cohorts (DAYFUN; New York University Center for Brain Health) were used in this study to 1) derive the normative range of VB, 2) assess the relationship between degree of upper airway obstruction and VB, and 3) assess the relationship between VB and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality with and without hypoxic burden that was derived using an in-house automated algorithm. Measurements and Main Results: The 95th percentiles of VB in asymptomatic healthy subjects across the EPISONO and the DAYFUN cohorts were 25.2% and 26.7%, respectively (median [interquartile range], VBEPISONO, 5.5 [3.5-9.7]%; VBDAYFUN, 9.8 [6.4-15.6]%). VB was associated with the degree of upper airway obstruction in a dose-response manner (VBuntreated, 31.6 [27.1]%; VBtreated, 7.2 [4.7]%; VBsuboptimally treated, 17.6 [18.7]%; VBoff-treatment, 41.6 [18.1]%) and exhibited low night-to-night variability (intraclass correlation coefficient [2,1], 0.89). VB was predictive of all-cause and CVD mortality in the SHHS cohort before and after adjusting for covariates including hypoxic burden. Although AHI was predictive of all-cause mortality, it was not associated with CVD mortality in the SHHS cohort. Conclusions: Automated VB can effectively assess obstructive sleep apnea severity, is predictive of all-cause and CVD mortality, and may be a viable alternative to the AHI.

Nebulised adrenaline in the post-operative management of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs: short-term outcomes in 90 cases (2014-2020).

CASE HISTORIES: Medical records from a single UK-based referral hospital were retrospectively reviewed to identify brachycephalic dogs who had undergone corrective airway surgery and were nebulised with adrenaline in the post-operative period. Ninety dogs were identified between August 2014 and March 2020. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Agitation following nebulisation with adrenaline was uncommon, with 86/90 (96%) dogs remaining calm, and overall outcome was reported as satisfactory in 68 of 73 (89%) dogs for which this information was available. Median respiratory rate at T0 (prior to first nebulisation) and T60 (1 hour following nebulisation) were both 20 breaths/minute with a median difference of 0 (95% CI = 0-0) breaths/minute (p = 0.657). Median heart rate at T0 and T60 were both 80 beats/minute with a median difference of 3 (95% CI = -10 to 7) beats/minute (p = 0.948). Two dogs experienced tachycardia, but this was not associated with the timing of administration of adrenaline. Complications reported in the 24 hours following surgery included regurgitation (n = 36), increased respiratory noise and effort (n = 10), aspiration pneumonia (n = 4), and inappetence (n = 3). A temporary tracheostomy tube was placed in 13 (14.4%) dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nebulisation with adrenaline is feasible, results in minimal increases in respiratory rate and heart rate and is associated with agitation in only a small number of dogs.

Addressing desaturation in a tracheal stenosis patient using the transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange technique during tracheostomy: A case report.

RATIONALE: Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is used in tracheostomy but not in cases of airway obstruction. This case report explores the use of THRIVE for managing airway obstruction during tracheostomy in patients with subglottic and tracheal stenosis, thereby addressing the current knowledge gap and exploring its potential for airway management. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 63-year-old female with subglottic and tracheal stenoses underwent tracheostomy. Multiple attempts to establish a patent airway were unsuccessful, and oxygen saturation dropped to 56%. DIAGNOSIS: Endotracheal tube was directed toward the tracheal wall, causing airway obstruction. INTERVENTIONS: THRIVE was administered to the patient. Subsequently, the tube position was adjusted to enhance ventilation. OUTCOMES: The patient's oxygen saturation increased to 99%. The postoperative complications, including subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium, resolved. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 9. LESSONS: THRIVE could be considered a temporary measure to enhance oxygenation before initiating a definitive treatment strategy.

The impact of semi-upright position on severity of sleep disordered breathing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a two-arm, prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The severity of sleep-disordered breathing is known to worsen postoperatively and is associated with increased cardio-pulmonary complications and increased resource implications. In the general population, the semi-upright position has been used in the management of OSA. We hypothesized that the use of a semi-upright position versus a non-elevated position will reduce postoperative worsening of OSA in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgeries. METHODS: This study was conducted as a prospective randomized controlled trial of perioperative patients, undergoing elective non-cardiac inpatient surgeries. Patients underwent a preoperative sleep study using a portable polysomnography device. Patients with OSA (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 5 events/hr), underwent a sleep study on postoperative night 2 (N2) after being randomized into an intervention group (Group I): semi-upright position (30 to 45 degrees incline), or a control group (Group C) (zero degrees from horizontal). The primary outcome was postoperative AHI on N2. The secondary outcomes were obstructive apnea index (OAI), central apnea index (CAI), hypopnea index (HI), obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) and oxygenation parameters. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included. Twenty-one patients were assigned to the Group 1 (females-14 (67%); mean age 65 ± 12) while there were fourteen patients in the Group C (females-5 (36%); mean age 63 ± 10). The semi-upright position resulted in a significant reduction in OAI in the intervention arm (Group C vs Group I postop AHI: 16.6 ± 19.0 vs 8.6 ± 11.2 events/hr; overall p = 0.01), but there were no significant differences in the overall AHI or other parameters between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of patients with "supine related OSA" revealed a decreasing trend in postoperative AHI with semi-upright position, but the sample size was too small to evaluate statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In patients with newly diagnosed OSA, the semi-upright position resulted in improvement in obstructive apneas, but not the overall AHI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov NCT02152202 on 02/06/2014.

Sleep in children from northeastern Brazil with congenital Zika syndrome: assessment using polysomnography.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to describe the characteristics of sleep in children with congenital Zika syndrome through polysomnographic assessment. METHODS: Polysomnography with neurological setup and capnography was performed. Respiratory events were scored according to American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. Children were classified based on neuroclinical examination as having corticospinal plus neuromuscular abnormalities or exclusively corticospinal abnormalities. Neuroradiological classification was based on imaging exams, with children classed as having supratentorial plus infratentorial abnormalities or exclusively supratentorial abnormalities. RESULTS: Of 65 children diagnosed with congenital Zika syndrome, sleep apnea was present in 23 children (35.4%), desaturation in 26 (40%), and snoring in 13 (20%). The most prevalent apnea type was central in 15 children (65.2%), followed by obstructive apnea in 5 (21.7%) and mixed type in 3 (13%). The average of the lowest saturation recorded was slightly below normal (89.1 ± 4.9%) and the mean partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide value was normal. Periodic leg movements were present in 48 of 65 children. Lower ferritin levels were observed in 84.6% of children. Palatine and pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) were small in most children and not associated with the presence of obstructive apnea. Ventriculomegaly and subcortical and nucleus calcification were the most frequent neuroimaging findings. Supratentorial and infratentorial anomalies were present in 26.7% (16 of 60) and exclusively supratentorial changes in 73.3% (44 of 60). In the neuroclinical classification, isolated corticospinal changes were more frequent and the mean peak in capnography was lower in this group. There was no difference regarding the presence of apnea for children in the neuroclinical and neuroradiological classification groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders were frequent in children with congenital Zika syndrome, with central sleep apnea being the main finding. CITATION: Brandão Marquis V, de Oliveira Melo A, Pradella-Hallinan M, et al. Sleep in children from northeastern Brazil with congenital Zika syndrome: assessment using polysomnography. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(10):1759-1767.

[Consensus recommendations on the evaluation and treatment of laryngotracheal anomalies in infants and young children].

Infants with laryngotracheal anomalies are clinically manifested as stridor or noisy breathing, choking, hoarseness, feeding difficulties, and cyanotic spells, followed by developmental and growth retardation and other health issues; in severe cases, patients may present with severe dyspnea, which is associated with high mortality. A timely diagnosis as well as appropriate strategy for laryngotracheal anomalies is still challenging for pediatric otolaryngologists. This consensus statement, evolved from expert opinion by the members of the Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Professional Committee of the Pediatrician Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, provides comprehensive recommendations and standardized guidance for otolaryngologists who manage infants and young children with laryngotracheal anomalies in evaluation and treatment based on symptomatology, physical and laboratory examinations.

Characterization of Suboptimal Responses to Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to characterize the changes in fetal lung volume following fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) that are associated with infant survival and need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: Fetuses with CDH who underwent FETO at a single institution were included. CDH cases were reclassified by MRI metrics [observed-to-expected total lung volume (O/E TLV) and percent liver herniation]. The percent changes of MRI metrics after FETO were calculated. ROC-derived cutoffs of these changes were derived to predict infant survival to discharge. Regression analyses were done to determine the association between these cutoffs with infant survival and ECMO need, adjusted for site of CDH, gestational age at delivery, fetal sex, and CDH severity. RESULTS: Thirty CDH cases were included. ROC analysis demonstrated that post-FETO increases in O/E TLV had an area under the curve of 0.74 (p = 0.035) for the prediction of survival to hospital discharge; a cutoff of less than 10% was selected. Fetuses with a <10% post-FETO increase in O/E TLV had lower survival to hospital discharge [44.8% vs. 91.7%; p = 0.018] and higher ECMO use [61.1% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.026] compared to those with an O/E TLV increase ≥10%. Similar results were observed when the analyses were restricted to left-sided CDH cases. A post-FETO <10% increase in O/E TLV was independently associated with lower survival at hospital discharge (aOR: 0.073, 95% CI: 0.008-0.689; p = 0.022) and at 12 months of age (aOR: 0.091, 95% CI: 0.01-0.825; p = 0.036) as well as with higher ECMO use (aOR: 7.88, 95% CI: 1.31-47.04; p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Fetuses with less than 10% increase in O/E TLV following the FETO procedure are at increased risk for requiring ECMO and for death in the postnatal period when adjusted for gestational age at delivery, CDH severity, and other confounders.

Serum biomarkers of remodeling in severe asthma with fixed airway obstruction and the potential role of KL-6.

Over 3% of asthmatic patients are affected by a particularly severe form of the disease ("severe asthma", SA) which is often refractory to standard treatment. Airway remodeling (AR), which can be considered a critical characteristic of approximately half of all patients with SA and currently thought to be the main mechanism triggering fixed airway obstruction (FAO), seems to be a key factor affecting a patient's outcome. Despite the collective efforts of internationally renowned experts, to date only a few biomarkers indicative of AR and no recognizable biomarkers of lung parenchymal remodeling have been identified. This work examines the pathogenesis of airway and lung parenchymal remodeling and the serum biomarkers that may be able to identify the severe asthmatic patients who may develop FAO. The study also aims to examine if Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) could be considered a diagnostic biomarker of lung structural damage in SA.