Airway Management by Laryngeal Mask Airways for Cervical Tracheal Resection and Reconstruction

Non-intubated Airway Surgery

Nonintubated airway surgery is an innovative procedure for tracheal tumors or stenosis. It avoids intubation and the interference of cross-field intubation, reducing airway trauma and postoperative complications. Utilizing supraglottic devices and short-acting anesthetics, it maintains spontaneous ventilation, facilitates surgery, and enhances recovery after surgery. Various surgical approaches are tailored to the airway lesion's location, and surveillance bronchoscopy, computed tomography (CT), MRI, and PET/CT are crucial for postoperative monitoring and outcome evaluation.

Anesthetic Management for Tracheal Resection and Reconstruction

Tracheal resection and reconstruction (TRR) surgery presents unique challenges to the anesthesiologist. These challenges include the induction of anesthesia and establishment of an airway in a patient with tracheal stenosis; airway management during the open tracheal phase of the operation; and emergence from anesthesia and extubation at the end of the case. A number of approaches to the safe conduct of these anesthetics have been described in the literature. Ultimately the successful anesthetic management of TRR hinges on an understanding of the surgical procedure, as well as close communication with the surgeon.

Can Laryngeal Mask Airway be the First Choice for Tracheal Stenosis Surgery? A Historical Cohort Study

Objectives

To compare the usage of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and orotracheal intubation (OTI), which are separate airway management methods in tracheal reconstruction surgeries, in terms of perioperative management, mortality, and morbidity.

Methods

Adult patients who underwent tracheal reconstruction surgery between June 2020 and June 2022 were included in the study, retrospectively. Patients with lost data or primary tracheal malignancy were excluded. Patients who underwent tracheal reconstruction were divided into two groups: LMA and OTI.

Results

Of a total of 57 included patients, the OTI and LMA groups had 30 (52.63%) and 27 patients (47.37%), respectively. The rate of intubated transfer to the intensive care unit and the length of stay in the intensive care unit were significantly higher in the OTI group (p=0. 014, p=0. 031) than those of the LMA group; further, in tracheal cultures, reproduction was also significantly higher in the OTI group (23.33%) (p=0. 007). The postoperative mortality rates were similar in both groups.

Conclusion

Since the absence of tension in end-to-end anastomosis of the trachea is vital for successful surgery, the LMA application (which has no tracheal contact) can be considered superior to OTI. In this study, LMA was successfully applied in all patients. Considering that the aim of anesthesia management should be to provide adequate oxygenation and normocarbia with minimally invasive intervention, we suggest airway management using LMA as the first option for tracheal reconstruction surgery because of the advantages described in this study.

Non-intubated tracheal resection and reconstruction for a tracheal tumor in an 8-year-old child

INTRODUCTION

It has been reported that non-intubated anesthesia can be used successfully in adult trachea reconstruction. Herein, our center reported a case of a child undergoing non-intubated trachea reconstruction for benign tracheal tumors.

CASE DESCRIPTION

In January 2023, it was decided to attempt tracheal resection and reconstruction (TRR) in an 8-year-old child with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor under non-intubated spontaneous breathing. After anesthesia induction, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted. Thereafter, a bilateral superficial cervical plexus block was performed with 15 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine injected into each side. The patient was induced to resume spontaneous breathing by artificially assisted ventilation with an oxygen flow of 2 to 5 L/min and FiO2=1. After tracheotomy, the oxygen flow was increased to 15 L/min to improve the local oxygen flow to maintain the pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) above 90% under spontaneous breathing. The patient had stable spontaneous breathing after tracheal anastomosis. The anastomosis was perfect without leakage. The LMA was removed and oxygen was given by the nasal catheter under light sedation at post anesthesia care unit (PACU).

CONCLUSION

Tracheal reconstruction under spontaneous breathing may be an alternative anesthesia method for upper tracheal surgery in children.

[Anesthesia and Surgery of the Trachea]

This article aims to review the current anaesthetic management of tracheal resections.Apart from the "traditional" approach of induction of general anaesthesia with conventional tracheal intubation and cross-field intubation or jet ventilation during the resection phase, there has lately been a trend towards less invasive techniques.Regional anaesthesia, laryngeal mask airways and preservation of spontaneous ventilation are among the new anaesthetic approaches. Current data suggest potential advantages compared with conventional tracheal intubation.Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may provide adequate gas exchange and/or cardiovascular support for complex resections and reconstructions. In addition, it may serve as a reliable "backup" technique, in case of oxygenation difficulties with the use of other devices.Given the vast spectrum of different anaesthetic approaches to tracheal surgery, interdisciplinary planning is essential to identify the optimal technique on a case-by-case basis. During that process, the localisation and consistency of the airway lesion, comorbidities and the functional status of the respiratory system and specific surgical approach need to be taken into account.As there is a lack of high-quality data, evidence-based comparisons of different anaesthetic techniques are not possible.

Airway management in "tubeless" spontaneous-ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic tracheal surgery: a retrospective observational case series study

BACKGROUND

Surgeon and anesthetist share the airway in a simpler way in the resection and reconstruction phase of tracheal surgery in tubeless spontaneous-ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS). Tubeless SV-VATS means stable spontaneous ventilation in the resection and reconstruction phase to anesthesiologist, and unobstructed surgical field to surgeon. What's the ideal airway management strategy during "Visual Field tubeless" SV-VATS for tracheal surgery is still an open question in the field.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 33 patients without sleeve and carina resections during the study period (2018-2020) in our hospital. The initial management strategy for these patients was spontaneous ventilation for intrathoracic tracheal resection and reconstruction. We obtained and reviewed medical records from our institution's clinical medical records system to evaluate the airway management strategy and device failure rate for tracheal resection in Tubeless SV-VATS.

RESULTS

Between 2018 and 2020, SV-VATS was first attempted in the 33 patients who had intrathoracic tracheal surgery but without sleeve and carina resections. All patients underwent bronchoscopy (33/33) and 8 patients (8/33) received partial resection before surgery. During the surgery, the airway device comprised either a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (ProSeal LMA) (n = 27) or single lumen endotracheal tube (n = 6). During the resection and reconstruction phase, Visual Field tubeless SV-VATS failed in 9 patients, and breathing support switched to plan B which is traditional ventilation of a single lumen endotracheal tube for cross field intubation (n = 4) and ProSeal LMA alongside a high-frequency catheter (high-frequency jet ventilation, HFJV) (n = 5) into the distal trachea ventilation. Preoperative respiratory failure or other ventilation-related complications were not observed in this cohort.

CONCLUSION

Base on current analysis either ProSeal LMA or endotracheal tube is an effective airway management strategy for tubeless SV-VATS with appropriate patient selection. It also provides breathing support conversion option when there's inadequate ventilation.

Achieving Successful Extubation and Cost-Effective Recovery Following Anesthetic Airway Management in Supracarinal Tracheal Reconstruction Surgeries: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction From an anesthesiologist's perspective, perioperative concerns related to supracarinal tracheal reconstruction surgery include having uninterrupted smooth ventilation without any laryngeal edema, glottic dysfunction, and airway leak. Surgical concerns comprise various kinds of anastomotic dissections, fistulas to innominate arteries, and the esophagus. The most serious complication following tracheal surgery is anastomotic separation, which might manifest modestly as stridor, respiratory distress, and extremis. To avoid dire repercussions, prompt management and securing the airway are necessary. Against this background, we wanted to highlight the importance of early extubation and discharge of supracarinal tracheal reconstruction patients from hospitals without any postoperative complications and with the least expenses possible, since most of these patients have already undergone postintubation tracheal stenosis and prolonged intensive care unit stay, and have experienced significant financial burden incurring from preceding events. Methodology Medical records of all patients admitted for tracheal reconstruction during the period from March 2019 to April 2022 (four years) were reviewed to collect patient demographic details, surgical descriptions, anesthesia data, records of pre-anesthetic evaluations, and postoperative details up until the hospital discharge. Results The most common reason for tracheal stenosis among our patients was post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS), which was seen in 8/13 patients (61.53%); 4/13 patients (30.76%) had stridor at rest and underwent emergency tracheostomy preoperatively immediately following admission to the hospital. The stenosis was situated at a median distance of 3 cm [interquartile range (IQR): 0.5-7] from the true vocal cords or 7 cm (IQR: 3-9) from the carina. The median length of tracheal resection was 2 cm (IQR: 1-4). We observed that the mode of induction for airway management was tracheostomy tube in four patients (with 90% tracheal stenosis), placement of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with spontaneous ventilation in four patients (with 75% tracheal stenosis), and small-size (#5-7.5 sizes) endotracheal tube (ETT) placement in five patients (with less than 75% tracheal stenosis). The postoperative complication noted was bleeding from the operative site in 1/13 patients (7.6%); a 0% mortality rate was noted during the hospital stay and up until six months post-discharge. We noted that the median duration of postoperative hospitalization was five days (IQR: 2-15), and the total cost incurred by each patient was less than INR 85,000 (USD 1,000). Conclusion Our analysis revealed that all our patients were extubated in the operative room and shifted to the ward. In the "open airway phase", standard distal tracheal intubation and cross-field ventilation techniques, and tracheal suturing were facilitated by the apnoea-ventilation-apnoea technique. Both the techniques along with the emergency tracheostomies done in severe tracheal obstruction preoperatively and intraoperative anesthesia management with the insertion of LMA Supreme, maintained with spontaneous breathing techniques, offered potential advantages in the management of supracarinal tracheal reconstruction surgeries. The multidisciplinary teamwork along with close communication and good rapport with the surgical team was found to be the key factor in the fast-track extubation and recovery of these patients.

A New Approach in Airway Management for Tracheal Resection and Anastomosis: A Single-Center Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES

The evaluation of the use of laryngeal mask airways (LMA) as an alternative form of airway management for surgical tracheal reconstruction.

DESIGN

A prospective case series.

SETTING

At a single German university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten patients.

INTERVENTIONS

The use of LMA for airway management in surgical reconstruction of the trachea.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Ten patients with tracheal stenosis of 50% to 90% were enrolled prospectively during the study period. The airway management consisted of the insertion of an LMA. During resection and reconstruction, high-frequency jet ventilation was used. Several arterial blood gas analyses (ABG) were performed before, during, and after the tracheal resection and reconstruction. All values were presented as median and interquartile ranges or as absolute and relative values, and no emergency change to cross-field intubation was necessary. The lowest PaO₂ was 93 mmHg in 1 patient after 20 minutes of jet ventilation, whereas PaO₂ increased after the induction phase and remained stable in 9 patients. There were no intraoperative complications related to anesthetic management apart from transient hypercarbia during and after jet ventilation. Preoperative and postoperative ABG were comparable. One patient required immediate postoperative ventilatory support. Two patients developed postoperative pneumonia, leading to their admission to the intensive care unit. One patient was operated with a palliative approach due to massive dyspnea and died in the next postoperative course.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of LMA is an alternative option in airway management for tracheal reconstruction, even in patients with significant tracheal stenosis. Potential advantages compared to tracheal intubation are unimpaired access to the operative field and the lack of stress on the fresh anastomosis.

Using ketamine in a patient with a near-occlusion tracheal tumor undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction: A case report

BACKGROUND

Tracheal tumors may cause airway obstruction and pose a significant risk to ventilation and oxygenation. Due to its rarity, there is currently no established protocol or guideline for anesthetic management of resection of upper tracheal tumors, therefore individualized strategies are necessary. There are limited number of reports regarding the anesthesthetic management of upper tracheal resection and reconstruction (TRR) in the literature. We successfully used intravenous ketamine to manage a patient with a near-occlusion upper tracheal tumor undergoing TRR.

CASE SUMMARY

A 25-year-old female reported progressive dyspnea and hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy showed an intratracheal tumor located one tracheal ring below the glottis, which occluded > 90% of the tracheal lumen. The patient was scheduled for TRR. Considering the risk of complete airway collapse after the induction of general anesthesia, we decided to secure the airway with a tracheostomy with spontaneous breathing. The surgeons needed to transect the trachea 1-2 cartilage rings below and above the tumor borders: a time-consuming process. Coughing and movement needed be minimized; thus, we added intravenous ketamine to local anesthetic infiltration. After tracheostomy, an endotracheal tube was placed into the distal trachea, and general anesthesia was induced. The surgeons resected four cartilage rings with the tumor attached and anastomosed the posterior tracheal wall. We performed a video-laryngoscopy to place a new endotracheal tube. Finally, the surgeons anastomosed the anterior tracheal walls. The patient was extubated uneventfully.

CONCLUSION

Ketamine showed great advantages in the anesthesia of upper TRR by providing analgesia with minimal respiratory depression or airway collapse.

Anesthesia for tracheal and carinal resection and reconstruction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of current anesthetic management of tracheal and carinal resection and reconstruction.

RECENT FINDINGS

In addition to the traditional anesthetic approach using conventional tracheal intubation after induction of general anesthesia and cross-field intubation or jet-ventilation once the airway has been surgically opened, there is a trend toward less invasive anesthetic procedures. Regional anesthetic techniques and approaches focusing on the maintenance of spontaneous respiration have emerged. Especially for cervical tracheal stenosis, laryngeal mask airways appear to be an advantageous alternative to tracheal intubation.Extracorporeal support can ensure adequate gas exchange and/or perfusion during complex resections and reconstructions without interference of airway devices with the operative field. It also serves as an effective rescue technique in case other approaches fail.

SUMMARY

The spectrum of available anesthetic techniques for major airway surgery is immense. To find the safest approach for the individual patient, comprehensive interdisciplinary planning is essential. The location and anatomic consistency of the stenosis, comorbidities, the functional status of respiratory system, as well as the planned reconstructive technique need to be considered. Until more data is available, however, a reliable evidence-based comparison of different approaches is not possible.

Anaesthesia for tracheal resection and anastomosis

Tracheal resection anastomosis is one of the most challenging surgeries. Notable advances in this field have made possible a variety of surgical, anesthetic, and airway management options. There are reports of newer approaches ranging from use of supraglottic airway devices, regional anesthesia, and extracorporeal support. Endotracheal intubation with cross-field ventilation and jet ventilation are the standard techniques for airway management followed. These call for multidisciplinary preoperative planning and close communication during surgery and recovery. This review highlights the anesthetic challenges faced during tracheal resection and anastomosis with specific considerations to preoperative workup, classification of tracheal stenosis, airway management, ventilation strategies, and extubation. The newer advances proposed have been reviewed.

Intraoperative airway management for patients with tracheal tumors: A case series of 37 patients

BACKGROUND

Tracheal tumors are rare. The aim of this case series was to investigate airway selection during radical surgery for patients with tracheal tumors.

METHODS

Here, we performed a retrospective case review of patients with tracheal tumors who underwent tracheal surgery in our center. A total of 37 cases, including 26 patients with primary tracheal tumors and 11 cases with advanced thyroid cancer, were enrolled into the study. Baseline characteristics and differential prognosis of included patients were estimated. We summarize the strategies for intraoperative airway selection and analyze the risk factors associated with delayed extubation.

RESULTS

There is a trend for primary tracheal tumors to appear toward the upper (9 of 26) and middle third (9 of 26) of the trachea, followed by the lower third airway (8 of 26). Advanced thyroid cancers occur most frequently in the upper trachea (7 of 11) and then the middle trachea (4 of 11). All primary and secondary patients underwent R0 resection. Minor histological subtypes were found to correlate with a poor prognosis. Extracorporeal support and tracheotomy intubation were applied in high-risk cases, and a total of 32 patients achieved intrathoracic intubation during the surgical process. Intensive care unit (ICU) delay (>1 day) was observed among 25 patients, which were not enriched in cases who underwent cross-field endotracheal intubation. Additionally, temporal suboptimal oxygenation (SpO2 < 95%) was an independent risk factor of ICU delay.

CONCLUSIONS

Airway selection plays an important role in successful tracheal surgery, and an appropriate ventilation routine depends on the patient and a surgical process which is safe and effective.

Laryngeal mask versus endotracheal tube for airway management in tracheal surgery: a case-control matching analysis and review of the current literature

OBJECTIVES

The endotracheal tube (ETT) and the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) are possible strategies for airway management during tracheal resection and reconstruction for tracheal and laryngotracheal stenosis. The goal of the study was to analyse and compare outcomes in the LMA and ETT groups.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2020, a total of 184 patients affected by postintubation, post-tracheostomy and idiopathic stenosis who had tracheal or laryngotracheal resections and reconstructions via a cervicotomy were retrospectively enrolled in this single-centre study. In 29 patients, airway management was achieved through LMA during tracheal surgery, whereas in 155 patients, it was achieved through ETT. A case-control matching analysis was performed with a 1:1 ratio, according to age, gender, body mass index, aetiology and length of stenosis (1-4 cm), resulting in 22 patients managed through LMA (LMA group) matched with 22 patients managed through ETT (ETT group).

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in the reintubation rate, 30-day mortality and postoperative length of stay. Operative time was shorter in patients with LMA (96.23 ± 34.72 min in the ETT group vs 76.14 ± 26.94 min in the LMA group; P = 0.043). Intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and stay were lower in the LMA group [18 in the ETT group vs 8 in the LMA group, odds ratio = 10.17, confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.79-57.79; P = 0. 009; 22.77 ± 16.68 h in ETT group vs 9.23 ± 13.51 h in LMA group; P = 0.005]. Dysphonia was more frequent in the ETT group than in the LMA group (20 in the ETT group vs 11 in the LMA group, odds ratio = 13.79, CI 95% 1.86-102; P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

LMA is a feasible option for airway management in tracheal surgery, with lower operative time, ICU admission rate, ICU length of stay and postoperative dysphonia occurrence.

Airway management by i-gel for open tracheal resection and reconstruction via combined cervicotomy and sternotomy surgical approach: A case report

Surgical resection and tracheal reconstruction are the most effective treatment options for airway stenosis. Tracheal surgery is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach and a highly specialized team of anesthesiologists and thoracic surgeons that are "sharing the airways". Several airway management tools, different devices, and various approaches can be required to ensure ventilation and gas exchange. We describe the case of a patient affected by tight tracheal stenosis, submitted to tracheal resection and reconstruction via combined cervicotomy and sternotomy surgical approach. Airway management was successfully performed by i-gel® (Intersurgical, UK) supraglottic device.

Various Uses of Laryngeal Mask Airway during Tracheal Surgery

BACKGROUND

 The use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) ventilation in surgeries to be performed in upper tracheal stenosis has been reported in the case series. However, there is no generally accepted standardized approach for the use of LMA. In this study, LMA usage areas and advantages of trachea surgery were examined.

METHODS

 The records of 21 patients who underwent tracheal surgery using LMA ventilation between March 2016 and May 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. The patient data were analyzed according to age, gender, mean follow-up time, surgical indication, mean tracheal resection length, anastomosis duration, mean oxygen saturation, mean end-tidal CO₂ levels, and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

 Four patients were female and 17 were male, their median age was 43 (11-72 range) and the mean follow-up time was 17.6 months. The most common surgical indication was postintubation tracheal stenosis. The mean tracheal resection length was 26.6 mm and the mean anastomosis duration was 11.3 minutes. The mean pulse oximetry and mean end-tidal CO₂ during laryngeal mask ventilation was 97.6% ± 2.1 and 38.1 ± 2.8 mm Hg, respectively. Postoperative complications were higher in patients with comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

 LMA-assisted tracheal surgery is a method that can be used safely as a standard technique in the surgery of benign and malignant diseases of both the upper and lower airway performed on pediatric patients, patients with tracheostomy, and suitable patients with tracheoesophageal fistula.

Anesthetic consideration for airway management in patient undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction for severe postintubation tracheal stenosis: a case report

Introduction Severe postintubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) is a rare iatrogenic complication after endotracheal intubation.Case presentation A case of PITS in a 51-year-old male undergoing partial pericardiectomy with a principal diagnosis of tuberculous constrictive pericarditis. Within 6 hours of extubation, a second emergency intubation lasting 120 hours was performed. The patient reported exertional dyspnea 30 days after discharge. High-resolution tracheobronchial tree computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction revealed constriction of the tracheal lumen of more than 80% at the thyroid planar upper third of the trachea. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed a tracheal stenosis located 3-4 cm from the glottis that could not be passed prior to general anesthesia. Mechanical ventilation with a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) and preparation for extracorporeal circulation as a final rescue option were performed to maximize patient safety. The patient underwent a tracheal resection and reconstruction without complications.Conclusion A supraglottic airway mode may be a practical and worthwhile alternative for patients with severe PITS.

Technique of laryngotracheal resection in subglottic stenosis

Cervical stenosis of the trachea caused by tracheotomy, tumor or induced by inflammatory disease can be treated by resection and anastomosis with good early and long-term results. Involvement of the ring cartilage makes the procedure technical demanding and increases the risk of morbidity. We describe our technique of laryngotracheal resection and reconstruction and compare the perioperative results with standard trachea resection. Between January 2005 and September 2018, we performed 92 standard cervical tracheal resections and 50 laryngotracheal resection including 6 procedures with widening of the ring cartilage. The resections were realized by direct anastomosis using dorsal flaps and/or interposition of rib cartilage in the posterior part of the ring cartilage. In one case intraoperative tracheotomy and intralaryngeal stenting was used. Patient records have been analyzed for perioperative data retrospectively. The main cause for stenosis or defect of the trachea and operation is preceding tracheotomy. Idiopathic stenosis, tumors and subglottic stenosis in Wegener disease are less common. Healing of the anastomosis was not disturbed in any patient. In two patients, bronchoscopic resection of granulation tissue was necessary. Tracheotomy in the course of treatment for intralaryngeal swelling or recurrent nerve palsy was necessary in 3 patients including one intraoperative tracheotomy for glottic stenting. Postoperative tracheostomy was closed in all patients within 3 months. Pulmonary complications and persistent recurrent nerve palsy occurred in 4 and 2 of the patients, respectively. Two patients died of pulmonary complications. The laryngotracheal resection is a relevant part of cervical tracheal surgery. It can be performed without significant elevated morbidity and is able to restore lung function and quality of voice.

Laryngeal Mask as the Primary Airway Device During Laryngotracheal Surgery: Data From 108 Patients

BACKGROUND

Airway management during repair of laryngotracheal stenosis is demanding, and there is currently no accepted standard of care. Recently an increasing number of airway centers have started to use a laryngeal mask until the airway is surgically exposed and cross-table ventilation can be initiated. However detailed data on this approach are missing in the literature.

METHODS

Patients receiving laryngotracheal surgery from November 2011 until October 2018 were retrospectively included in this single-center study, except for patients who presented with a preexisting tracheostomy at time of surgery. Airway management uniformly consisted of laryngeal mask ventilation until cross-table ventilation was established. Clinical variables, perioperative complications, and airway complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred eight patients (65 women, 43 men) receiving tracheal resection (n = 50), cricotracheal resection (n = 49), or single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction (n = 9) were included in the analysis. Of the included patients 23 (21.3%) had malignant disease and 85 (78.7%) a benign pathology. In the subgroup of patients with subglottic disease 85.1% had high-grade stenosis (Myer-Cotton III°). Airway management with a laryngeal mask was successful in all except 1 patient (99.1%). Mean pulse oximetry and mean end-tidal CO₂ during laryngeal mask ventilation was 98.7% ± 2.4% and 34.8 ± 7.6 mm Hg, respectively. At the end of surgery 95 patients (88%) were successfully weaned from the respirator using the laryngeal mask.

CONCLUSIONS

The laryngeal mask as the primary airway device is feasible and safe in patients undergoing laryngotracheal surgery even in cases with high-grade stenosis.

Anesthetic considerations for tracheobronchial resection in oncologic surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Anesthesia for the resection and reconstruction of the tracheobronchial tree for neoplastic disease is challenging, both from surgical as well as anesthetic points of view. There are no published recommendations or guidelines addressing anesthetic and airway management dilemmas that arise during these surgical interventions. This review presents key aspects of preoperative imaging evaluation, surgical planning, as well as anesthesia and airway management during these complex cases.

RECENT FINDINGS

Newly published articles highlight both the surgical and anesthetic challenges encountered during tracheobronchial resections and emphasize the importance of creating specialized, high-volume centers for good patient outcomes. Of great importance is the development of a preoperative joint anesthetic-surgical plan which includes a patient-specific airway management strategy. This review presents newer and less commonly employed anesthetic management strategies which have been recently described in the literature to allow expansion of care to patients who were previously deemed too high risk for surgery.

SUMMARY

With advances in technology, the use of classical ventilation methods in conjunction with newer alternatives, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, creates the premise for a more individualized, safer and controlled approach to tracheobronchial resections for oncologic purposes.

Spontaneous breathing anesthesia for cervical tracheal resection and reconstruction

Background

Spontaneous breathing anesthesia (SBA) may have advantages over general anesthesia for cervical tracheal resection and reconstruction (TRR), avoiding the difficulties and complication caused by endotracheal intubation and surgical cross-field intubation. This prospective study evaluates SBA for cervical TRR.

Methods

Date was obtained from 35 patients who had cervical TRR under SBA from May 2015 to March 2019. Intravenous sedation and ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (CPB) were applied to maintain effective analgesia and sedation.

Results

Thirty-two patients with tracheal tumors and 3 patients with post-intubation tracheal stenosis underwent TRR. After the airway was opened, 29 patients resumed stable spontaneous breathing, 1 patient needed high-frequency jet ventilation, and 1 patient needed anesthesia conversion for surgical reasons.

Conclusions

Spontaneous breathing anesthesia is feasible for the cervical TRR. It can be an alternative anesthetic technique for certain patients.