Extracorporeal support in airway surgery

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the management of critical airway stenosis

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is used not only support gas transfer of patients suffering from respiratory failure, but also to manage hypoxic patients with critical airway obstruction during various procedures. We present a case in which we electively used VV-ECMO to facilitate tube placement and tracheal biopsy in a 67-year-old female with critical tracheal stenosis. The patient was transferred to our hospital for a surgical treatment after emergent tracheostomy for postoperative management of cerebral hemorrhage in right putamen. Her trachea was severely stenotic and just enough for a 5.5 mm tracheostomy tube. Removal of tracheostomy tube, tracheal wall biopsy and intra-tracheal tube placement were successfully performed under VV-ECMO support, drainage from inferior vena cava returned into the right ventricle (RV). RV perfusion was a very useful and effective method in VV-ECMO system, although some careful wire management was needed under fluoroscopic guidance.

Short-Term Outcomes of Tracheal Resection in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database

BACKGROUND

Tracheal surgery is uncommon, and most of the published literature consists of single-center series over large periods. Our goal was to perform a national, contemporary analysis to identify predictors of major morbidity and mortality based on indication and surgical approach.

METHODS

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database (STS GTSD) was queried for all patients undergoing tracheal resection between 2002 and 2016. We identified 1,617 cases and compared outcomes by indication and approach. We created a multivariable model for a combined end point of mortality or major morbidity. The relationship between volume and outcome was analyzed.

RESULTS

The cervical approach was used 81% of the time, and benign disease was the indication in 75% of cases. Overall 30-day mortality was 1%, and no significant difference was found between the cervical and thoracic approach (1.1% versus 1.6%, p = 0.57) or between benign and malignant indications (1.1% versus 1.5%, p = 0.61). Independent factors associated with morbidity or mortality included thoracic approach, diabetes, and functional status. Centers were divided into those averaging fewer than four resections per year and those performing at least four per year. The low volume (<4) group had a combined morbidity and mortality of 27%, significantly higher than 17% observed among centers with more than four per year (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

STS GTSD participants perform tracheal resection for benign and malignant disease with low early morbidity and mortality. Higher operative volume is associated with improved outcome. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm airway stability and rate of reoperation.

Single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)-advanced procedures & update

The uniportal approach for major pulmonary resections began in 2010, with the first case being reported by D González-Rivas and colleagues in La Coruña, Spain. Since then, in different countries, thoracic surgeons had been performing hundreds of cases, with more advanced and complex procedures. Nowadays, there are reports of uniportal tracheal resection and reconstruction, carinal resection, bronchoplastic procedures, lobectomies with en bloc chest wall excision, and vascular reconstruction with optimal outcomes. The development of technologies and the potential benefits of a direct view, anatomic instrumentation, better cosmesis, and, potentially, less postoperative pain have led uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery to grow exponentially worldwide.

Principles and indications of extracorporeal life support in general thoracic surgery

The role of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has expanded rapidly over the past 15 years to become an important tool in advanced general thoracic surgery practice. Intra-operative and in some cases continued post-operative ECLS is redefining the scope of complex surgical care. ECLS encompasses a spectrum of temporary mechanical support that may remove CO₂, oxygenate or provide hemodynamic support or a combination thereof. The most common modalities used in general thoracic surgery include extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), interventional lung assist device (iLA^® Novalung^®, Heilbronn, Germany), and extracorporeal CO₂ removal (ECCO₂R). The ECMO and Novalung^® devices can be used in different modes for the short term or long-term support depending on the situation. In this review, the principles and current applications of ECLS in general thoracic surgery are presented.