A new technique for treatment of tracheal compression by the innominate artery: external reinforcement with autologous cartilage graft and muscle flap suspension

Tracheal suspension with autogenous rib cartilage in a patient with severe tracheomalacia

Background

Tracheomalacia (TM), caused by anterior mediastinal tumorectomy, most likely to deteriorate condition of patient life.

Case presentation

A 63-year-old patient felt serious dyspnea diagnosis as TM caused by the recurrent cervical schwannoma. The narrowest diameter of the TM was only 0.446 cm and the length of malacic segment was 7.47 cm. Here we designed a novel tracheal suspension technique by using autogenous rib cartilage graft to treat severe TM. The obvious effect was observed that the inner diameter increased from 0.446 cm to 1.390 cm,and the airway symptom was alleviated.

Conclusion

The autogenous rib cartilage graft used for suspending the malacic trachea was safe and effective.

Thoracic Surgery Considerations in the Child and Young Adult

Vascular rings and slings may represent life-threatening compression of the esophagus and trachea. Such anatomic variants, although rare, are encountered by all thoracic surgeons in the scope of their practice at some time. The thoracic surgeon, whether treating such patients in the practice of congenital heart surgery, or in the practice of adult cardiac or thoracic surgery must have a requisite understanding of such anatomic variants, their diagnostic workup and radiologic interpretation, as well as their surgical management. Primary tracheobronchial disorders are also frequently encountered in the scope of a thoracic surgical practice and also are discussed.

Rings, slings, and other tracheal disorders in the neonate

Tracheal and bronchial pathologies in the neonate can be rapidly fatal if prenatal or quick postnatal diagnosis and intervention is not performed. Close multidisciplinary collaboration between multiple medical and surgical specialties is vital to the effective diagnosis and treatment of these pathologies. The fetal and neonatal airway may be affected or compromised by more prevalent pathologies such as tracheomalacia and tracheo-esophageal fistula with esophageal atresia. However, it is imperative that we also consider other potential sources that may perhaps be less familiar such as congenital cardiovascular abnormalities, tracheal stenosis, complete tracheal rings, tracheal sleeve, and foregut duplication cysts. Modern imaging studies and surgical techniques are allowing us to better serve these children.

The Thoracic Inlet Index in patients with tracheal obstruction caused by chest wall deformity: Validation in patients and age-matched controls

AIM

We present a novel index for evaluating severity of airway-threatening thoracic inlet compromise in childhood. Two indices were validated in three cases and sixty asymptomatic controls.

METHODS

We developed an index to determine severity of thoracic inlet narrowing. Two different measurement methods were evaluated: Thoracic Inlet Index (TII) was determined at the site of greatest airway compromise at the level of the innominate artery crossing the anterior trachea and TII (anatomic) using purely skeletal measurements, both determined from thoracic CT scan. We sought to validate both indices to determine which was more predictive of the risk of airway compromise. Three patients who presented with life threatening airway compromise were compared to sixty age matched asymptomatic controls obtained from the trauma registry.

RESULTS

The mean TII in controls was 3.89. The TII was consistent at various ages. In patients, mean TII was 12.16 (range of 11.31-12.95). For TII the difference between controls and symptomatic patients was highly significant (P=0.0012). The mean TII (anatomic) in controls was 3.5. The TII (anatomic) was less consistent when evaluated in different age groups. In patients mean TII (anatomic) was 6.32 (range 5.38-7.59). For TII (anatomic), the difference between controls and symptomatic patients was also significant (P=0.0474) but did not discriminate as well as the functional index.

CONCLUSIONS

The TII measured at the level of the innominate artery crossing on thoracic CT scan appears to be the most useful. A level of greater than 10 was highly predictive of airway compromise in our patient group.

Aortopexy for innominate artery tracheal compression in children

OBJECTIVES

(1) Evaluate the presentation, diagnostic workup, and outcomes of contemporary surgical intervention for airway obstruction from innominate artery tracheal compression in children. (2) Assess the significance of synchronous airway lesions in the treatment of innominate artery tracheal compression.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series with chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care children's hospital.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective medical record review of 26 consecutive children who underwent aortopexy for innominate artery tracheal compression at a tertiary care children's hospital. Presenting symptoms, diagnostic workup, presence of synchronous airway lesions, length of hospitalization, and treatment outcomes were examined.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients (17 male, 65%) were included in the study. All were diagnosed with bronchoscopy and confirmed with radiographic imaging. Median age at diagnosis and surgery was 9.7 and 10.0 months, respectively. Presenting symptoms included noisy breathing (93%), cough (78%), dyspnea (44%), apnea (44%), cyanosis (19%), and recurrent respiratory infections (15%). Average degree of tracheal compression was 71% (SD, 12%). Fifteen of 26 (58%) patients had synchronous airway lesions, including mild laryngomalacia and subglottic stenosis. Median length of stay was 2 days. Median follow-up was 10 months. Subjective improvement occurred in all 21 patients for whom follow-up information was available.

CONCLUSION

Anterior tracheal vascular compression can cause a variety of airway symptoms. Mild synchronous airway lesions are common and do not prevent successful aortopexy. Aortopexy is a viable treatment option for symptomatic anterior tracheal vascular compression from the innominate artery.

Tracheal stenosis treated by division of the brachiocephalic artery: Report of a case

Tracheal stenosis of the brachiocephalic artery (BCA) is rare, and no definitive treatment protocol has yet been established. Brachiocephalic artery compression of the trachea is also relatively rare. This report presents a case of tracheal stenosis treated by division of the BCA. A 29-year-old woman was admitted because of stridor. Computed tomography (CT) revealed tracheal stenosis caused by compression of the BCA. Brachiocephalic artery suspension or aortopexy was not indicated because she had a thoracic deformity. Therefore, the BCA was divided. The operation was achieved without complications such as ischemia of the right arm or stroke. The stenosis of the trachea was improved. Division of the BCA can be an effective alternative procedure when the tracheal stenosis is caused by the BCA.

Minimally invasive innominate artery transection for tracheomalacia using 3-dimensional multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography: report of a case

We successfully performed transection of the innominate artery in a patient with a neuromuscular disorder through minimally invasive access after confirming the anatomical relationships of the vessel using 3-dimensional multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography. A 16-year-old girl with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 had been on long-term mechanical ventilation with a tracheostomy. She had scoliosis and tracheomalacia. Bronchoscopy showed a flattened and narrow lower trachea and an anterior pulsatile compression by the innominate artery. She underwent transection of the innominate artery to prevent tracheoinnominate artery fistula formation. Based on preoperative 3-dimensional multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography images, the innominate artery was transected through a small transverse curvilinear skin incision just below the suprasternal notch and an oblique partial manubriotomy from the suprasternal notch to the first left intercostal space.

Closure of the larynx for intractable aspiration in neurologically impaired patients

We present three patients with intractable aspiration pneumonia in the setting of permanent neurologic impairment, who had received a tracheostomy and showed a juxtaposition of the innominate artery against the trachea. Neurologically impaired patients often show a juxtaposition or compression of the innominate artery against the trachea by chest deformity in the setting of severe scoliosis, which could result in a trachea-innominate artery fistula. For intractable aspiration, laryngotracheal separation is safely performed and effective in controlling aspiration, but is occasionally complicated by trachea-innominate artery fistula. As an alternative procedure, we performed a closure of the larynx in these three cases, using double flaps of the vocal folds and false vocal folds, as a treatment for intractable aspiration. After operation, the patients did well without complication or clinical evidence of recurrent aspiration.