Laryngotracheal Stenosis Following Intubation for COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Report of Two Cases

Benign laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition that is commonly caused by iatrogenic events as a result of endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. Numerous cases are being published for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who end up with severe LTS after prolonged intubation or tracheostomy. Here, we presented two cases of LTS due to prolonged intubation after severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The characteristic of these two cases is that both of them needed second time intubation and were readmitted because of severe dyspnoea and all the workup for post-COVID-19 complications were investigated except the LTS which was later diagnosed after one month of suffering of these patients.

Case Reports:Anesthetic management of emergent critical tracheal stenosis

Two case reports of emergent anesthesia of critical tracheal stenosis are presented. The use of extracorporeal circu-lation may be a lifesaving method for these patients. Two patients both with severe lower tracheal stenosis were admitted with severe inspiratory dyspnea. The first patient had a tracheal tube inserted above the stenosis in the operating room, but ventilation was unsatisfactory, high airway pressure and severe hypercarbia developed, therefore extracorporeal circulation was immediately initiated. For the second patient, we established femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass prior to induction of anaesthesia, and intubated above the tracheal tumor orally under general anesthesia, then adjusted the endotracheal tube to appropriate depth after the tumor had been resected. The patient was gradually weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. The two patients all recovered very well after surgery. Surgery is lifesaving for patients with critical tracheal stenosis, but how to ensure effective gas exchange is crucial to the anesthetic management. Extracorporeal circulation by the femoral artery and femoral vein cannulation can gain good gas exchange even if the trachea is totally obstructed. Therefore, before the induction of anesthesia, we should assess the site and degree of obstruction carefully and set up cardiopulmonary bypass to avoid exposing the patient to unexpected risks and the anesthesiologist to unexpected challenges.

Rapid Establishment of Tracheal Stenosis in Pigs Using Endotracheal Tube Cuff Overpressure and Electrocautery

To apply a new airway treatment to humans, preclinical studies in an appropriate animalmodel is needed. Canine, porcine and leporine tracheas have been employed as animal airwaystenosis models using various methods such as chemical caustic agents, laser, and electrocautery.However, existing models take a long time to develop (3- 8 weeks) and the mechanism of stenosisis different from that in humans. The aim of the present study was to establish a new and fasttracheal stenosis model in pigs using a combination of cuff overpressure intubation (COI) andelectrocautery. Fourteen pigs were divided into three groups: tracheal cautery (TC) group (n=3),COI group (n=3), and COI-TC combination group (n=8). Cuff overpressure (200/400/500 mmHg)was applied using a 9-mm endotracheal tube. Tracheal cautery (40/60 watts) was performed usinga rigid bronchoscopic electrocoagulator. After intervention, the pigs were observed for 3 weeks andbronchoscopy was performed every 7 days. When the cross-sectional area decreased by > 50%, itwas confirmed that tracheal stenosis was established. The time for tracheal stenosis was 14 days inthe TC group and 7 days in the COI-TC combination group. In the COI group, no stenosis occurred.In the COI-TC group, electrocautery (40 watts) immediately after intubation for>1 h with a cufpressure of 200 mmHg or more resulted in suficient tracheal stenosis within 7 days. Moreover, thedegree of tracheal stenosis increased in proportion to the cuff pressure and tracheal intubation time.The combined use of cuf overpressure and electrocautery helped to establish tracheal stenosis inpigs rapidly.

Epinephrine use during chemotherapy to treat severe tracheal stenosis secondary to advanced esophageal cancer:A case report and review of the literature

Dyspnea from tracheal stenosis due to compression by a tumor is an emergency that complicates therapy in oncology.We report a case of advanced esophageal cancer in a 56-year-old male who developed severe dyspnea due to airway compression by mediastinal lymph node enlargement.We used epinephrine by subcutaneous injection and aerosol inhalation to temporarily relieve dyspnea while the patient received bevacizumab and chemotherapy.The dyspnea had subsided considerably after 5 days,and the mediastinal lymph nodes were significantly reduced after 2 cycles of chemotherapy.However,the patient died of massive tracheal hemorrhage 2 months later.

Management of Tracheal Stenosis in Sub-Saharan Medicalized Context: Real Challenge about Two Clinical Cases

Introduction: Post-intubation tracheal stenosis (STPI) is a complication of ventilatory assistance by intubation and/or tracheotomy. Her frequency is estimated between 10% to 20%. The treatment of choice remains surgery. It is based on tracheal resection-anastomosis which guarantees satisfactory and reliable long-term results. Objectives: To determine the frequency of post-intubation tracheal stenosis, to specify the diagnostic and therapeutic methods, to determine the complications and the evolution. Material and methods: This was a study carried out in the ENT and head and neck surgery department of the University Hospital Center Gabriel TOURE. Our study focused on two (02) cases of post-intubation tracheal stenosis (STPI) collected during a period of 1 year (January 2021 to December 2021). Results: They are all acquired, secondary to an intubation. The two (02) cases benefited from a tracheal anastomosis resection, the indications of which were specified and the results and complications evaluated. Conclusion: Our results show that resection anastomosis remains the reference treatment for STPI.

Self-Expanding Nitinol Stent for Treatment of Tracheal Stenosis Caused by Pulmonary Hypertension:1 case report

A 38 year-old man was admitted because of half a year of recurrent bouts of eough and shortness of breath and 20 days of hemoptysis. He had been apparently healthy until the illness. In the recent 6 months, the dyspnea and fatigue gradually onset and became more severe, the hemoptysis being 100-200 mL per day. Spells of chest pain are associated with coughing. Despite accepting antibiotic and antispasmodic therapy in a hospital, there was no obvious improvement and he was transferred to our hospital. Physical examination on admission: He was in acute distress and anemic face With P 110/min., R 30/min., T36. 8oC and Bp 100/60 mmHg. There were Wheezes, medium and fine

Results of Montgomery T-Tube in Primary Treatment of Laryngotracheal Stenosis

Introduction: For tracheal stenosis, tracheal resection and anastomosis is widely considered the treatment of choice. However, this surgical approach is not feasible when the glottis and subglottis are involved or in patients with a poor general condition and tracheal stents are a plausible means of providing a permanent or temporary airway opening. Objectives: Evaluate the features and the results of patients with Montgomery T-tube in tracheal stenosis. Methods: Fifteen patients with Myer-Cotton grades 2-3 circular cicatricial tracheal stenosis who received a Montgomery T-tube between 2002-2011 were analyzed in terms of age, gender, etiology, duration of intubation, location and size of the stenotic segment on computed tomography(CT), follow-up time with the T-tube, the complications that occurred after T-tube removed and additional tracheal surgery. Conclusion: A T-tube can be applied in tracheal stenosis at the first treatment before attempting surgery. The patients should be closely followed-up due to the possibility of re-stenosis and other complications.

Surgery for Acute Complicated Tracheal Stenosis

Tracheal stenosis is a serious, life-threatening disease with increasing incidence. Among these stenoses, the number of complicated tracheal lesions, where a resection and anastomosis is not successful or not applicable, is also increasing significantly. These acute situations often need to be managed by a combined surgical technique. The present paper is dedicated to this topic;the management of combined surgical and endoscopic technique in case of complicated long tracheal stenosis.

Different Approaches on Various Cases of Tracheal Stenosis

Narrowing of the airway caused by different diseases is a serious condition manifesting varying signs and symptoms. Immediate attention and treatment must be performed as this is a life-threatening condition. In the past decade, there has been massive advancement on the management of airway stenosis. Some of these are stent placement, tracheal reconstruction and tumor debulking. This article focuses on 5 different cases with distinct strategies in conducting treatment and management of airway stenosis.

Surgical repair of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with complex congenital heart disease in infants

Objective To evaluate results of one stage repair of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with complex congenital heart disease in infants. Methods Two infants with congenital stenosis associated with Tetralogy of Fallot were operated on at the age of 1. 5 and 3 years respectively. In the younger child, the 1. 2 cm long of tracheal stenosis was excised and anastomosed. The other case with 3 cm in length of stenosis at the mid-segment of trachea was excised and repaired with a patch. Results The postoperative progress was uneventful. The patients were followed-up for 6 months to 1 year without any complications. Conclusion One stage repair of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with complex congenital heart disease in infants has got satisfactory results. With cardiopulmonary bypass, the operation can be carried out safely. 6 refs,2 figs.

Effect of three interventional bronchoscopic methods on tracheal stenosis and the formation of granulation tissues in dogs

Background Therapeutic approaches for tracheal stenosis caused by the formation of exuberant granulation tissues usually include electrocautery, mechanical dilation, laser therapy, argon plasma coagulation （APC）, cryotherapy and stent placement. However, restenosis after stent insertion remains a significant limitation. We examined the efficacy of three different approaches, including induction of mechanical lesions, APC performed with different powers or durations and cryotherapy, to identify the method that limited the formation of granulation tissue. Methods Twelve specially bred research mongrel dogs were divided into three groups. In group 1 （four dogs） mild （procedure 1; two dogs） or moderate （procedure 2; two dogs） damage was induced mechanically. Group 2 （six dogs） received APC at different powers or durations （procedure 3：30 W, 1 cm/s; procedure 4：30 W, 2 cm/s; procedure 5：25 W, 3 cm/s）. Group 3 （two dogs） received cryotherapy （procedure 6： two freeze-thaw cycles of 30 seconds）. Uncovered self-expandable metallic stents were inserted in all dogs to maintain a continuous stimulus to the trachea mucosa. Dogs were monitored for 4 weeks and the relationship between granulation tissue proliferation and method used was analyzed. Results In group 1, granulation tissue growth increased with more severe mechanical damage. The growth of granulation tissue in group 2 was more pronounced than in group 1, and both dogs in procedure 3 died because of severe stenosis. In this group, the formation of granulation tissue decreased with decreasing power and duration. In group 3, no obvious granulation tissue was found at week 4. Conclusions Lesions and stimuli from a foreign body （the stent） are two important factors that lead to overgrowth of granulation tissue. Thermal lesions, such as APC, seem to induce greater granulation tissue growth and cartilage damage compared with mechanical and cryotherapy lesions. Cryotherapy in combination with mechanical dilation may be a safe and effective treatment method for managing tracheal stenosis caused by the formation of granulation tissue.

Management of Benign Tracheal Stenosis by Small-diameter Tube-assisted Bronchoscopic Balloon Dilatation

Background：A limitation of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation （BBD） is that airflow must be completely blocked for as long as possible during the operation.However,the patient often cannot hold his or her breath for a long period affecting the efficacy of the procedure.In this study,we used an extra-small-diameter tube to provide assisted ventilation to patients undergoing BBD and assessed the efficacy and safety of this technique.Methods：Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation was performed in 26 patients with benign tracheal stenosis using an extra-small-diameter tube.The tracheal diameter,dyspnea index,blood gas analysis results,and complications were evaluated before and after BBD.Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 16.0 for Windows （SPSS,Inc.,Chicago,IL,USA）.Results：Sixty-three BBD procedures were performed in 26 patients.Dyspnea immediately improved in all patients after BBD.The tracheal diameter significantly increased from 5.5 ± 1.5 mm to 13.0 ± 1.3 mm （P 〈 0.001）,and the dyspnea index significantly decreased from 3.4 ± 0.8 to 0.5 ± 0.6 （P 〈 0.001）.There was no significant change in the partial pressure of oxygen during the operation （before,102.5 ± 27.5 mmHg;during,96.9 ± 30.4 mmHg;and after,97.2 ± 21.5 mmHg;P =0.364）,but there was slight temporary retention of carbon dioxide during the operation （before,43.5 ± 4.2 mmHg;during,49.4 ± 6.8 mmHg;and after,40.1 ± 3.9 mmHg;P 〈 0.001）.Conclusion：Small-diameter tube-assisted BBD is an effective and safe method for the management of benign tracheal stenosis.

Endoscopic treatment of thoracic tracheal stenosis with T-tube through tracheotomy opening in six patients

Cervical or thoracic trauma, tracheotomy and tracheal intubation for mechanical ventilation tiaerapy are themain reasons of tracheal stenosis. Recently the incidence of tracheal stenosis is gradually increasing. Tracheal stenosis is an irreversible, progressive disease and the only effective treatment is surgical removal of stenosis tissue to restore normal tracheal lumen. From January 2008 to April 2011, 6 patients with thoracic tracheal stenosis in our department underwent tracheotomy and T-tube stent implantation by endoscope with good results.

Congenital tracheal stenosis in infants and Children

Background Congenital tracheal stenosis （CTS） is a challenging airway problem. CTS in infants and children can be life-threatening. During last thirty years, a large number of studies covering the diagnosis, clinical presentation, managements, especially surgical treatments of CTS have been reported. This review aimed to conclude recognized knowledge of CTS and provide clues for managing infants and children with CTS.

Laryngotracheal stenosis in burn patients requiring mechanical ventilation

Objective: To identify the incidence of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) in burn pa-tients requiring mechanical ventilation at a regional academic burn center. Methods: A retrospective review of all burn patients requiring endotracheal intubation or tra-cheostomy for airway management between 2003 and 2009 was performed. A group of trauma patients requiring similar airway instrumentation during the same period of time was used as a control. Results: None of the trauma patients and 2 of the burn patients developed LTS. Both presented with stridor and were diagnosed within 2—5 weeks after extubation. One patient underwent successful carbon dioxide laser radial incision and dilation and continues to do well. The other patient failed endoscopic treatment and required T-tube placement. The incidence of LTS in burn patients requiring mechanical ventilation was 2.98％ overall and 4.76％ among those with inhalational injury. Conclusions: Patients become symptomatic within weeks of the initial injury. Treatment is challenging and multiple surgical procedures are often required. A larger study is necessary to determine if the incidence is higher among burn patients.

Efficacy and outcomes of endoscopic management of post-tracheostomy tracheal stenosis:a retrospective study from an interventional center in China

Post-intubation or post-tracheostomy tracheal stenosis is the most common cause of acquired benign airway stenosis.Incidence of post-intubation tracheal stenosis(PITS)is decreasing due to the widespread use of the high-volume low-pressure cuff,and awareness of the need to monitor the cuff pressure.Nevertheless,post-tracheostomy tracheal stenosis(PTTS)incidence is still very high and seriously affects the patients’quality of life.PTTS is often caused by damage to the airway cartilage,regional ischemic necrosis,tracheotomy site infection,and friction between the distal tracheotomy tube and the tracheal wall.

Isolated congenital tracheal stenosis: A rare and deadly condition

Introduction: Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a serious and rare condition. In most cases, CTS is associated with cardiopulmonary abnormalities;however, isolated CTS is present in 10%–30% of patients. The severity of the disorder is dependent on the symptoms, which correlate with the CTS classification. Case presentation: We discuss our findings in an infant who presented with severe respiratory compromise where incidental intra-operative findings revealed CTS with no cardiopulmonary abnormalities. Because of a lack of resources in the emergency department, we created a tracheostoma and inserted an endotracheal tube. Conclusion: The main aim in treating CTS is to secure the airway and provide sufficient oxygen.

Intervention with flexible bronchoscopy in patiens with respiratory failure caused by tracheal stenosis

Objective To investigate the efficiency and safety of intervention with flexible bronchoscope under general anesthesia by using laryngeal mask in patients with severe tracheal stenosis induced respirtory failure.Methods A total of 16 in-patients with respiratory failure caused

Application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the endoscopic treatment of severe benign airway stenosis:A case report and literature review

Ventilation strategies in patients with severe tracheal stenosis should be tailored to the patient according to the underlying cause and narrowing location.This report is on a case of a 68-year-old male patient,who was admitted for radiotherapy because of esophageal cancer and then developed severe stenosis at the cervical trachea.We used venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to secure the airway and ensure adequate oxygenation.Then urgent endoscopic balloon dilation of airway stenosis was successfully performed under general anesthesia.This case shows that venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be used in endoscopic tracheal procedures for patients with severe benign stenosis in the upper-trachea who are unable to tolerate conventional ventilation.

吸入性烧伤导致的喉气管狭窄疗效分析

目的探讨成年人吸入性烧伤导致喉气管狭窄的外科治疗方法和效果。方法回顾性分析2008年9月~2022年3月就诊于西安交通大学附属红会医院,由吸入性烧伤导致的16例喉气管狭窄患者临床资料,男10例,女6例,年龄17~57岁,平均38.4岁。支撑喉镜下喉剪或激光切除瘢痕并球囊扩张4例;气道前壁加宽喉气管重建术9例,其中肋软骨加宽4例,肌皮瓣2例,甲状软骨翼板3例;气管-气管端端吻合1例,环气管吻合1例,甲状软骨气管吻合1例。结果拔管13例,拔管率81.25%(13/16),失败3例,失败率为18.75%(3/16)。T型硅胶管放置时间为9~24个月,平均12.5个月。随访3个月~10年,所有拔管者均未见复发,进食、呼吸正常。结论对于成年人吸入性烧伤导致的喉气管狭窄患者进行气道重建选择好恰当的手术时机及对应的手术方法,效果满意,T型管放置时间要长。