[Treatment of post-intensive care tracheal stenosis after previous covid-19 pneumonia]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze postoperative outcomes and perioperative management of patients with post-intensive care tracheal stenosis and previous COVID-19 pneumonia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 8 patients with post-intensive care tracheal stenosis and previous COVID-19 pneumonia aged 34-61 years between January 2021 and April 2021. Lung damage CT-3 was observed in 2 (25%) patients, CT-4 - in 5 (62.5%) patients. In one case, COVID-19 pneumonia with lung damage CT-2 joined to acute cerebrovascular accident. Post-tracheostomy stenosis was detected in 7 (87.5%) cases, post-intubation stenosis - in 1 patient. Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation ranged from 5 to 130 days. In 75% of cases, tracheal stenosis was localized in the larynx and cervical trachea. Two patients admitted with tracheostomy. In one case, an extended tracheal stenosis was combined with atresia of infraglottic part of the larynx. One patient had tracheal stenosis combined with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Length of tracheal stenosis was 15-45 mm. Tracheomalacia was observed in 4 (50%) patients. All patients had severe concomitant diseases.

RESULTS

To restore airway patency, we used circular tracheal resection with anastomosis, laryngotracheoplasty and endoscopic methods. Tracheal resection combined with TEF required circular tracheal resection with disconnection of fistula. Adequate breathing through the natural airways was restored in all patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Three patients with baseline tracheal stenosis had favorable postoperative outcomes after circular tracheal resection. Four patients are at the final stage of treatment after laryngotracheoplasty and tracheal stenting.

CONCLUSION

Patients after invasive mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia are at high risk of cicatricial tracheal stenosis and require follow-up. Circular tracheal resection ensures early rehabilitation and favorable functional results. Laryngotracheoplasty is preferred if circular tracheal resection is impossible. This procedure ensures adequate debridement of tracheobronchial tree and respiratory support. Endoscopic measures are an alternative for open surgery, especially for intrathoracic tracheal stenosis and intractable tracheobronchitis.

[A non-standard approach in the treatment of post-traumatic multifocal cicatricial tracheal stenosis with atresia of subglottic larynx, involvement of vocal cords and 33-year cannulation]

The report presents a case of non-standard two-stage treatment of post-traumatic multifocal cicatricial tracheal stenosis with atresia of subglottic larynx, involvement of vocal cords, and 33-year cannulation. At the first stage, bougienage through a tracheostomy, endoscopic argon plasma exposure, circular tracheoglottic resection with tracheostomy and ³/₄ circle anastomosis, formation of a laryngotracheostomy with endoprosthetics were applied simultaneously. The second step was to eliminate the extensive fenestrated tracheo-laryngeal defect using titanium nickelide reinforcing implants. The individual algorithm made it possible to successfully eliminate complex tracheo-laryngeal stenosis with long-term cannulation and demonstrate excellent long-term treatment results.

[Treatment of laryngotracheal and tracheal cicatricial stenosis: 10-year experience]

OBJECTIVE

To describe 10-year experience of treating the cicatricial tracheal stenosis (CTS) in a regional multi-field hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 120 CTS patients aged 13-75 years. In 8 (6.7%) patients, CTS was combined with tracheoesophageal fistula (TPF). Post-intubation stenosis was diagnosed in 16 (13.3%) cases, post-tracheostomy - in 102 (85%) ones, post-traumatic - in 2 (1.7%) patients. CTS length ranged from 1.2 to 8 cm. Fifty (41.7%) patients had cervical CTS, 40 (33.3%) patients - cervico-thoracic tracheal stenosis, 11 (9.2%) patients - tracheal stenosis at the thoracic level. Nineteen (15.8%) patients had multifocal stenoses. We used endoscopic techniques, circular tracheal resection (CTR) and laryngotracheal reconstruction.

RESULTS

Postoperative mortality rate was 0.83%. CTR was performed in 33 patients, laryngotracheal reconstruction - 77, endoscopic stenting - 6 patients. In 4 cases, local CTS was eliminated by bougienage and argon plasma exposure. CTS was successfully disconnected with TEF using CRT in 3 cases, laryngotracheoplasty and stenting - in 5 cases. The fenestrated tracheal defect was closed by a three-layer autologous flap in 59 patients. Of these, autologous flap was reinforced with porous nickel-titanium implants in 17 patients. Postoperative complications after CRT occurred in 6 (16.7%) patients (anastomotic leakage - 2, anastomositis - 1, restenosis - 2). No patients died. Postoperative complications after laryngotracheal reconstruction were observed in 18 (23.4%) patients including 5 ones with restenosis who underwent CTR with a favorable outcome.

CONCLUSION

CTS treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Each surgery has certain indications and place in treatment algorithm. CTR is highly effective, but may be accompanied by complications associated with tracheal anastomosis. Decrease of postoperative morbidity will improve immediate and long-term results of CTS treatment. The chosen treatment algorithm ensured good and satisfactory results in 98% of patients.