Encountering a patient with unanticipated laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) during anesthetic induction is challenging for an anesthesiologist. Because routine history taking and pre-anesthetic evaluation cannot rule out the possibility of LTS, other measures should be taken. Perioperative airway maintenance is considered crucial for avoiding complications such as airway edema, bleeding, obstruction, collapse, and ultimately respiratory failure and arrest. We report an unanticipated tracheal stenosis discovered during anesthetic induction that hindered endotracheal intubation. Because airway maintenance was difficult, we postponed surgery until determining the cause of the difficult entry, considered possible therapeutic approaches (both anesthetic and surgical), and provided successful surgery with a continuous epidural block.
Airway Management ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Edema ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Tracheal Stenosis*

We report on a case of difficult endotracheal intubation in a patient with marked tracheal deviation at an angle of 90 degrees combined with stenosis due to kyphoscoliosis with vertebral body fusion. After induction of general anesthesia, a proper laryngeal view was easily obtained using a videolaryngoscope. But a tracheal tube could not be advanced more than 3 cm beyond the vocal cords due to resistance, despite various attempts, including the use of small size tubes, full rotation of the tube tip, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Ultimately, the airway was successfully secured by placing a tube tip above the area of resistance and by additionally packing saline-soaked gauzes around the tracheal inlet to minimize gas leakage and to fasten the tube in the trachea.
Anesthesia, General ; Bays ; Bronchoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Kyphosis ; Scoliosis ; Trachea ; Tracheal Diseases ; Vocal Cords

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various methods to induce tracheal stenosis in an animal model have been introduced. However, most methods use non-physiologic mechanical or chemical injury to tracheal mucosa or cartilage. In this study, we sought to develop an animal model of tracheal stenosis using a segmented endotracheal tube. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Nine New Zealand White Rabbits were included in this feasibility study. A segmented 1.5 cm LEVIN-Tube (16 French) was inserted into tracheal lumen via tracheotomy site and fixed with a nylon tape circumferentially tied around the trachea. The tube was removed transorally one week later and the tracheal lumen was observed with bronchoscopy every week. Rabbits were sacrificed two weeks after the tube removal and the trachea was evaluated with histologic image. Three rabbits underwent tracheotomy and closure only to evaluate possible impact of tracheotomy procedure to tracheal stenosis (sham surgery). RESULTS: None of the 6 rabbits showed significant complications or death during the study. No significant change of tracheal lumen was identified in 3 sham models. The mean grade of stenosis was 57.2±9.9% (range, 43-70%). Histologic image showed thickening and fibrosis of lamina propria with relatively intact tracheal cartilage framework. CONCLUSION: We developed an animal model of tracheal stenosis using a segmented endotracheal tube fixed with a nylon tape. Since this model has similar pathophysiology to prolonged endotracheal intubation, it may be used in various studies related to tracheal stenosis.
Animals* ; Bronchoscopy ; Cartilage ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Feasibility Studies ; Fibrosis ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Methods ; Models, Animal* ; Mucous Membrane ; Nylons ; Rabbits ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis* ; Tracheotomy

A 60-year-old man with advanced esophageal cancer was admitted for surgical placement of a feeding jejunostomy tube before commencement of chemoradiotherapy. His esophageal cancer had directly invaded the posterior tracheal wall, inducing a nearly total obstruction of the distal trachea. On the day before the surgery, respiratory failure developed due to tumor progression and tracheal edema. Tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were attempted without success. Application of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) corrected the patient's respiratory acidosis and relieved his dyspnea. With full ECMO support, he underwent tracheal stent insertion. Two hours later, he was weaned from ECMO support uneventfully. This was a successful case of tracheal stenting for airway obstruction under rescue veno-venous ECMO.
Acidosis, Respiratory ; Airway Management ; Airway Obstruction ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Emergencies* ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Intubation ; Jejunostomy ; Middle Aged ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Stents ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis

BACKGROUNDBenign cicatricial airway stenosis (BCAS) is a life-threatening disease. While there are numerous therapies, all have their defects, and stenosis can easily become recurrent. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and complications of nonstent combination interventional therapy (NSCIT) when used for the treatment of BCAS of different causes and types.

METHODSThis study enrolled a cohort of patients with BCAS resulting from tuberculosis, intubation, tracheotomy, and other origins. The patients were assigned to three groups determined by their type of stenosis: Web-like stenosis, granulation stenosis, and complex stenosis, and all patients received NSCIT. The efficacy and complications of treatment in each group of patients were observed. The Chi-square test, one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the paired t -test were used to analyze different parameters.

RESULTSThe 10 patients with web-like stenosis and six patients with granulation stenosis exhibited durable remission rates of 100%. Among 41 patients with complex stenosis, 36 cases (88%) experienced remission and 29 cases (71%) experienced durable remission. When five patients with airway collapse were eliminated from the analysis, the overall remission rate was 97%. The average treatment durations for patients with web-like stenosis, granulation stenosis, and complex stenosis were 101, 21, and 110 days, respectively, and the average number of treatments was five, two, and five, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSNSCIT demonstrated good therapeutic efficacy and was associated with few complications. However, this approach was ineffective for treating patients with airway collapse or malacia.

Adult ; Bronchoscopy ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; Male ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Tracheostomy ; adverse effects ; Tuberculosis ; complications

A 60-year-old man with advanced esophageal cancer was admitted for surgical placement of a feeding jejunostomy tube before commencement of chemoradiotherapy. His esophageal cancer had directly invaded the posterior tracheal wall, inducing a nearly total obstruction of the distal trachea. On the day before the surgery, respiratory failure developed due to tumor progression and tracheal edema. Tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were attempted without success. Application of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) corrected the patient's respiratory acidosis and relieved his dyspnea. With full ECMO support, he underwent tracheal stent insertion. Two hours later, he was weaned from ECMO support uneventfully. This was a successful case of tracheal stenting for airway obstruction under rescue veno-venous ECMO.
Acidosis, Respiratory ; Airway Management ; Airway Obstruction ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Emergencies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Intubation ; Jejunostomy ; Middle Aged ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Stents ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis

A 25-year-old man developed tracheal stenosis due to prolonged intubation for five days. Immediately after bougienage, his left lung was not possible to ventilate and emergency tracheostomy was performed to produce ample space for airflow. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed that his left main bronchus was totally obstructed by sputum at the entrance of the superior and inferior lobar bronchi. Inadequate airway clearance increases the risk of infection and airway obstruction. We suggest chest physiotherapy be applied to all patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially patients with tracheal stenosis, due to its positive impact on pulmonary functional ability and ICU stay.
Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Lung ; Sputum* ; Thorax ; Tracheal Stenosis ; Tracheostomy

OBJECTIVETo summarize our experiences in anesthetic management for the resection of tracheal masses.

METHODSThe clinical data of 15 patients with tracheal masses in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2002 to 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Remarkable dyspnea and tracheal stenosis were observed in 12 patients. Standard orotracheal intubation was carried out in patients with less than 50% of tracheal lumen obstructed. The location of masses was critical for those with severe tracheal stenosis. Local anesthetics were applied and tracheostomy were performed in patients with masses located at the upper part of the trachea. Intubation above the masses was established in patients with masses located at the lower part of the trachea. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support was introduced before anesthetic induction in a patient with severe respiratory distress and hypercapnea,then an endotracheal tube successfully passed the stenosis guided by a fiberoptic bronchoscope. General anesthesia was induced intravenously and muscle relaxants were applied in all patients. Succinylcholine was administrated in 5 of 6 difficult patients.

RESULTSAirway management and anesthesia were performed successfully in all the 15 patients. After the operations,patients were extubated and discharged from the hospital without difficulty in respiration.

CONCLUSIONSThe successful airway management of tracheal masses depends on the degree and location of stenosis and the severity of dyspnea. Extracorporeal circulation is an optimal choice for those with critical airway occlusion and adequate oxygenation can not be accomplished with conventional anesthesia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Airway Management ; methods ; Anesthesia ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheal Stenosis ; surgery ; Tracheostomy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the short term effect of argon plasma coagulation (APC) combined with cryotherapy via bronchoscopy for treatment of severe post-intubation tracheal stenosis in a child.

METHODA 3-year old boy was admitted for cephalothorax abdominal compound trauma and dyspnea, who had severe post-incubation tracheal stenosis. The agreement about the operation risk was signed by the parents. Endotracheal APC procedure was performed with a bronchoscope under general anesthesia. The APC probe was put into the working channel of the bronchoscope. The stenotic lesion was endoscopically visualized and then coagulated by argon plasma. Such coagulation was carried out several times at the stenotic site until it gradually became dilated. The devitalized tissue was mechanically removed with grasping forceps. Thereafter, bronchoscopic cryosurgery was repeatedly performed at the stenotic site. Clinical symptoms, signs and bronchoscopic manifestations were observed right after operation, after 1 day, 10 days, 1 month and 6 months separately.

RESULTTracheal tissue hyperplasia and cyanosis disappeared, laryngeal stridor and dyspnea improved obviously right after the operation. General condition of the patient was well, there was no laryngeal stridor and dyspnea 10 days after operation. The mucosa of the surgical site was smooth and no tracheostenosis was seen under bronchoscope at 1 month and 6 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONArgon plasma coagulation combined with cryotherapy via bronchoscope is an effective method to treat tracheal stenosis of children, which needs further exploration for the application.

Argon Plasma Coagulation ; methods ; Bronchoscopy ; Child, Preschool ; Cryotherapy ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; Laryngeal Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Trachea ; surgery ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

PURPOSE: Stenting has been developed to deal with airway stenosis and is applicable in patients with post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) in whom surgery would not be indicated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors in inoperable patients in whom a silicone stent was inserted due to PITS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 55 PITS patients undergoing silicone stenting between January 2001 and December 2009. RESULTS: Silicone stent was inserted to narrowed trachea after the combination of pre-dilatation including laser cauterization, mechanical bougienation and ballooning. Following airway stabilization, the stent could be removed successfully in 40% (22/55) of the patients after median 12 months of stenting. However, in 60% (33/55) of patients, the stent could not be removed successfully and surgical management was needed after initial stabilization. Multivariate analysis revealed that the stent could be successfully removed more frequently in those who do not have cardiovascular disease [odds ratio (OR)=12.195; p=0.036] and the intervention was performed within 6 months after intubation (OR=13.029; p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Among those patients undergoing silicone stenting due to PITS, the stent could be successfully removed when patients do not have cardiovascular disease and stented within 6 months after intubation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal/instrumentation/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; *Stents ; Tracheal Stenosis/*therapy ; Young Adult