Reresection for recurrent stenosis after primary tracheal repair

[Improving surgical technique for tracheal resection with anastomosis]

OBJECTIVE

To present modern aspects of improving surgical techniques in tracheal resection developed in recent years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The authors have the most extensive experience in tracheal surgery (>2.000 patients over the past 50 years). Diagnostic capabilities, perioperative management and surgical techniques have changed over such a long period. This concerns the proposed classification of cicatricial tracheal stenosis, features of endoscopic and X-ray diagnostics, indications for various surgeries, choice of surgical approach, technique of tracheal tube mobilization and anastomosis after tracheal excision. Preventive measures for severe postoperative complications are described.

CONCLUSION

Such an extensive experience allowed the authors to develop an algorithm for the treatment of patients with tracheal stenosis. This significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality. Replication of such equipment is associated with technical support of hospitals and professional level of specialists consisting of endoscopist, anesthesiologist, intensive care specialist and thoracic surgeon.

A computational analysis on the impact of multilevel laryngotracheal stenosis on airflow and drug particle dynamics in the upper airway

Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a type of airway narrowing that is frequently caused by intubation-related trauma. LTS can occur at one or multiple locations in the larynx and/or trachea. This study characterizes airflow dynamics and drug delivery in patients with multilevel stenosis. Two subjects with multilevel stenosis (S1 = glottis + trachea, S2 = glottis + subglottis) and one normal subject were retrospectively selected. Computed tomography scans were used to create subject-specific upper airway models. Computational fluid dynamics modeling was used to simulate airflow at inhalation pressures of 10, 25, and 40 Pa, and orally inhaled drug transport with particle velocities of 1, 5, and 10 m/s, and particle size range of 100 nm-40 µm. Subjects had increased airflow velocity and resistance at stenosis with decreased cross-sectional area (CSA): S1 had the smallest CSA at trachea (0.23 cm2) and resistance = 0.3 Pa·s/mL; S2 had the smallest CSA at glottis (0.44 cm2), and resistance = 0.16 Pa·s/mL. S1 maximal stenotic deposition was 4.15% at trachea; S2 maximal deposition was 2.28% at glottis. Particles of 11-20 µm had the greatest deposition, 13.25% (S1-trachea) and 7.81% (S2-subglottis). Results showed differences in airway resistance and drug delivery between subjects with LTS. Less than 4.2% of orally inhaled particles deposited at stenosis. Particle sizes with most stenotic deposition were 11-20 µm and may not represent typical particle sizes emitted by current-use inhalers.

[Surgical management of tracheal anastomosis failure and risk of arterial bleeding]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the optimal algorithm for tracheal anastomotic insufficiency and prevention of arterial bleeding.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We present 2 patients with defects of tracheal anastomosis after tracheal resection and divergence of tracheal edges. We primarily analyzed appropriate emergency care and prevention of subsequent severe complications such as arterial bleeding and respiratory insufficiency.

CONCLUSION

Tracheostomy may be preferable for complete late tracheal anastomotic insufficiency to restore breathing. However, surgery should be accompanied by prevention of arterial bleeding. Isolation of damaged area, particularly tracheostomy tube, from the mediastinum by well-vascularized tissues can prevent bleeding from major vessels (for example, innominate artery). Follow-up is unreasonable due to worsening of clinical situation, risk of hemorrhagic complications and fatal outcomes. General satisfactory clinical status of the patient is not of matter. Repeated tracheal anastomosis is justified only for early insufficiency, i.e. within 2-3 days when postoperative inflammation is mild.

[Tracheolaryngeal resection for cicatricle stenosis]

AIM

To determine the safest and the most effective surgical treatment of patients with cicatricle stenosis of tracheolaryngeal segment via analysis of different approaches.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For the period 1963-2015 at Petrovsky Russian Research Center for Surgery and Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University 1128 patients with cicatricle tracheal stenosis have been treated. There were 683 men and 445 women. 684 (60.6%) patients were young and the most employable (21-50 years). All patients were divided into 2 groups depending on time of treatment: the first one included 297 patients between 1963 and 2000, the second group - 831 patients between 2001 and 2015. In group 1 tracheolaryngeal anastomosis was made in 10 (16.9%) out of 59 patients who underwent tracheal resection. Previously indication for this surgery was cicatricle stenosis of cervical trachea and larynx with upper borderline of cicatricle changes at least 2 cm from vocal folds. In group 2 these procedures were more frequent. 94 (28.5%) out of 330 patients underwent tracheolaryngeal resection. Cranial borderline of lesion was within 0.5 cm from the vocal folds (only if posterior laryngeal wall at the level of cricoid cartilage was intact). Difficult patients are those who need for double-level or redo repair and procedures with tracheostomy.

RESULTS

In the second group overall morbidity after tracheal resections followed by anastomosis was 5.6%. These complications were more common after tracheolaryngeal anastomosis (17%). There were no lethal outcomes after 94 tracheolaryngeal resections. Good long-term results were observed in 89.8% of patients after circular resection. Their quality of life was similar to that of healthy people. Preserved cicatricle tracheal segments during tracheal repair with T-shaped airway tube adversely affects quality of life in these patients in long-term period.

Investigating the effects of laryngotracheal stenosis on upper airway aerodynamics

OBJECTIVE

Very little is known about the impact of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) on inspiratory airflow and resistance, especially in air hunger states. This study investigates the effect of LTS on airway resistance and volumetric flow across three different inspiratory pressures.

METHODS

Head-and-neck computed tomography scans of 11 subjects from 2010 to 2016 were collected. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the upper airway from the nostrils to carina, including the oral cavity, were created for one subject with a normal airway and for 10 patients with LTS. Airflow simulations were conducted using computational fluid dynamics modeling at three different inspiratory pressures (10, 25, 40 pascals [Pa]) for all subjects under two scenarios: 1) inspiration through nostrils only (MC), and 2) through both nostrils and mouth (MO).

RESULTS

Volumetric flows in the normal subject at the three inspiratory pressures were considerably higher (MC: 11.8-26.1 L/min; MO: 17.2-36.9 L/min) compared to those in LTS (MC: 2.86-6.75 L/min; MO: 4.11-9.00 L/min). Airway resistances in the normal subject were 0.051 to 0.092 pascal seconds per milliliter (Pa.s)/mL (MC) and 0.035-0.065 Pa.s/mL (MO), which were approximately tenfold lower than those of subjects with LTS: 0.39 to 0.89 Pa.s/mL (MC) and 0.45 to 0.84 Pa.s/mL (MO). Furthermore, subjects with glottic stenosis had the greatest resistance, whereas subjects with subglottic stenosis had the greatest variability in resistance. Subjects with tracheal stenosis had the lowest resistance.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study demonstrates that LTS increases resistance and decreases airflow. Mouth breathing significantly improved airflow and resistance but cannot completely compensate for the effects of stenosis. Furthermore, location of stenosis appears to modulate the effect of the stenosis on resistance differentially.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA. Laryngoscope, 128:E141-E149, 2018.

Overview of malignant tracheal tumors

Malignant airway tumors present particular challenges for surgeons, namely: to distinguish symptoms from those of the more frequent benign airway diseases; to separate metastatic disease from the uncommon primary tumors; and to consider curative resection in appropriate candidates. Here, we present a critical review of tracheal malignant obstruction, focusing on the evaluation of a patient with malignant airway tumor, patient selection for resection and the predictors of long-term survival. The new development in primary tracheal tumors is an old story, that of making physicians aware that resection rates in epidemiologic studies remain low, mainly because opportunities for resection are missed.

Surgical intervention strategies for congenital tracheal stenosis associated with a tracheal bronchus based on the location of stenosis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate surgical intervention strategies for congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) associated with a tracheal bronchus based on the location of stenosis.

METHODS

The medical records of 13 pediatric patients with CTS associated with a tracheal bronchus at a single institution between January 2006 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Type 1: tracheal stenosis above the right upper lobe bronchus (RULB) (n = 1). One patient underwent slide tracheoplasty and was successfully extubated. Type 2: tracheal stenosis below the RULB (n = 7). Tracheal end-to-end anastomosis was performed before 2014, and one patient failed to extubate. Posterior-anterior slide tracheoplasty was performed since 2014, and all three patients were successfully extubated. Type 3: tracheal stenosis above the RULB to the carina (n = 5). One patient underwent posterior-anterior slide tracheoplasty and was successfully extubated. Two patients with left-right slide tracheoplasty and another two patients with tracheal end-to-end anastomosis for the stenosis below the RULB could not be extubated.

CONCLUSION

Tracheal end-to-end anastomosis or slide tracheoplasty can be selected for tracheal stenosis above the RULB according to the length of stenosis. Posterior-anterior slide tracheoplasty appears feasible for tracheal stenosis below the RULB or above the RULB to the carina.