Tracheal rupture with disposable polyvinylchloride double-lumen endotracheal tubes

Conservative management of posterior tracheal wall injury by endoscopic stent placement in children: Preliminary data of three cases

The management of tracheal wall lacerations is debated. Current treatments are mainly derived by the experience on adults and include conservative or surgical treatments depending on the clinical condition of the patient. We report our preliminary data with removable tracheal stents in 3 children with tracheal tears and respiratory failure. If performed in specialized centers with appropriate endoscopic and clinical follow-up, airway stents can be considered a valid and safe conservative treatment for tracheal tears and an alternative to intubation or tracheostomy. Further studies are needed to compare different therapeutic options and better define the management and duration of stent treatment.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the management of contralateral iatrogenic bronchus perforation during lower bilobectomy

Tracheobronchial rupture by a double-lumen endobronchial tube is a rare but life-threatening complication. We report a case of bronchial rupture during contralateral bilobectomy. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was instituted via the right femoral vein and the internal jugular vein with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position. Sleeve resection of the ruptured bronchus was performed. The patient was successfully discharged home. Rapid institution of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is helpful to manage this intraoperative complication.

Iatrogenic rupture of the left main bronchus secondary to repeated surgical lobe torsion during double-lumen tube placement: A case report

RATIONALE

Bronchial rupture is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication during double-lumen endobronchial tube placement. The rupture of the left main bronchus resulting from repeated surgical torsion is uncommon.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 70-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), intermediate emphysema, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and L3-L4 lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Chest x-ray and computed tomography revealed a solitary pulmonary nodule in the left lower lobe.

DIAGNOSES

Left lower lobe carcinoma.

INTERVENTIONS

To improve surgical access, forceps were used to oppress and torque the left lung.

OUTCOMES

An irregular, circular, horizontal, full-thickness rupture of 1.2 cm was observed at the tip of the bronchial tube in the left main bronchus upon examination of the bronchial stump.The rupture was repaired via primary suturing with 4-0 prolene thread and secondary reinforcement with a pericardial flap through a left thoracotomy, with no further complications.

LESSONS

Caution should be exercised during compression and torsion of the pulmonary lobe when attempting to improve surgical access, especially in patients with COPD. Conversion to thoracotomy is recommended if other measures have been unsuccessful.

Tracheal rupture after endotracheal intubation - A report of three cases -

Tracheal rupture is a rare but serious complication that occurs after endotracheal intubation. It usually presents as a linear lesion in the membranous wall of the trachea, and is more prevalent in women and patients older than 50 years. The clinical manifestations of tracheal injury include subcutaneous emphysema and respiratory distress. We report the cases of three female patients of old age presenting tracheal rupture after endotracheal intubation. Two cases received surgical repair without complication and one recovered uneventfully after conservative management. We presume that the tracheal injuries were caused by over-inflation of cuff and sudden movement of the tube by positional change. Therefore, we recommend cuff pressure monitoring during general anesthesia and minimized movement of the head and neck at positional change.

Left mainstem bronchial rupture during one-lung ventilation with Robertshaw double lumen endobronchial tube -A case report-

Lung separation using a double-lumen endobronchial tube is necessary for video assisted thoracoscopy (VATs). Bronchial rupture after intubation with a double-lumen endobronchial tube has been rarely reported. We report a case of a 70-year-old man who had solitary pulmonary nodule in his right upper lobe. He was intubated with a left-sided Robertshaw double-lumen endobronchial tube. He underwent a VATs right upper lobectomy with the one-lung ventilation of left lung. During the operation, the rupture of the left mainstem bronchus was detected. Immediately, the thoracotomy was performed and the ruptured left mainstem bronchus was repaired with absorbable sutures (vicryl). Seven days later he had a bronchoscopy to examine the left mainstem bronchus. There was no evidence of the bleeding, leakage and inflammation. Subsequent course was uneventful. Tracheobronchial injuries related to the double-lumen endobronchial tube are discussed.

[Successful surgical treatment of tracheal rupture caused by endotracheal intubation]

Rupture of the trachea is a rare complication of endotracheal intubation. The most common cause of the injury is the overinflation of the cuff. The authors present the case of a 45-year-old male in whom a 6 cm long trachea lesion was perceived during the operation due to a meso-hypopharyngeal tumor. Primary intervention resulted in successful reconstruction and full recovery. The case demonstrates the importance of prompt diagnosis and adequate therapy that helped in preventing an assumingly life-long complication or even death.

Tracheal rupture in burns--a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Tracheal ruptures and tracheoesophageal injuries are rare, but life-threatening complications can arise during ventilation.

METHOD

A retrospective study of all burned patients placed on a ventilator between 2000 and 2005 (n=1693) identified two patients (0.1%) with a tracheal rupture and tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF). The diagnoses were confirmed using endoscopy and computed tomography. The tracheal and oesophageal defects were treated surgically immediately after diagnosis using a collar approach.

RESULTS

In all cases, withdrawal of ventilation proceeded without problems. Depending on their underlying condition, patients were transferred to normal wards with adequate spontaneous breathing and oral feeding.

CONCLUSION

Tracheal rupture and tracheoesophageal injury following orotracheal intubation is a rare complication in patients with burns (0.1% incidence). Following diagnosis, immediate surgical intervention is effective without further complications.

The use of a bronchial blocker compared with a double-lumen tube for single-lung ventilation during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether a bronchial blocker (BB) placed through a routinely used single-lumen tube (SLT) to achieve 1-lung ventilation is appropriate in patients undergoing a minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) operation.

DESIGN

Clinical trial.

SETTING

University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients scheduled for elective MIDCAB operation (n = 159).

INTERVENTIONS

Group A was treated with a left-sided double-lumen tube (DLT) and served as the control group. Group B was intubated with a routinely used SLT in combination with a BB.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The following data were collected: (1) time required for placement of each tube, (2) ventilation pressures, (3) lung compliance, (4) dislocations of the DLT or BB, (5) effectiveness of lung collapse, and (6) PaO(2) and fraction of inspired oxygen. In 4 patients (4%) of group B, the BB could not be placed within an acceptable time so that 155 patients (50 patients in group A, 105 patients in group B) were statistically analyzed. Statistically significant differences during 1-lung ventilation were found for peak and mean inspiratory pressure (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05), dynamic and static lung compliance (p < 0.05), and dynamic lung compliance change (p < 0.01). No statistical significance was found for intubation time (p > 0.05) and PaO(2) and fraction of inspired oxygen (p > 0.05). Lung collapse was insufficient in 1 patient of group A (2%) and in 2 patients of group B (2%).

CONCLUSION

To achieve 1-lung ventilation during a MIDCAB procedure, the use of a BB combined with an SLT is an appropriate technique as an alternative to the commonly used DLT.

Tracheal injury during endoscopic hemithyroidectomy

Unsuspected tracheal injury during endoscopic hemithyroidectomy is described. The diagnosis was delayed because of absent symptomatology. Surgical repair was planned but deferred because of infection. The patient was managed with a tracheostomy tube and antibiotics, and the wound healed completely without any residual abnormality or complications.

A comparison of two different bronchial cuff designs and four different bronchial cuff inflation methods

OBJECTIVE

To compare directly measured pressures at the cuff/trachea interface that are associated with two different bronchial cuff designs and four different methods of bronchial cuff inflation suggested for use with one-lung ventilation.

DESIGN

In vitro study.

SETTING

Experimental laboratory in a university-affiliated hospital.

INTERVENTIONS

The bronchial cuffs of two different endotracheal tubes were inflated using one of four different methods of determining the cuff volume and pressure necessary to "just seal" the bronchus and obtain lung separation; positive-pressure test, negative-pressure test, CO2 analysis, and a new test using an anesthesia ventilator. When each method predicted the "just-seal" state, the pressure at the cuff/bronchus interface as well as cuff inflation pressure and volume were recorded.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Although the new test was incompatible with the bronchial blocker, the other three tests all accurately predicted lung separation with the Univent, with no significant differences in pressures exerted on the trachea. However, when used with the double-lumen tube, the new test produced significantly lower measured parameters than the other inflation methods. CO2 analysis did not reliably predict bronchial seal with the double-lumen tube.

CONCLUSIONS

To achieve lung separation with the lowest pressure on the trachea, the new test is the most appropriate method for use with the double-lumen tube; however, the negative-pressure test appeared to be the easiest and fastest method for use with the bronchial blocker. Although the bronchial blocker was associated with lower pressures transmitted from the cuff to the trachea, the in vitro model cannot predict which bronchial cuff design would be superior in vivo.

Use of the Univent System tube for difficult intubation and for achieving one-lung anaesthesia

BACKGROUND

One-lung ventilation in major thoracic surgery is the most commonly accepted technique, not only for surgery on the lung but also in procedures involving the oesophagus, mediastinum and thoracic aorta. Conventional double-lumen tubes may sometimes be difficult to place correctly in patients in whom intubation is difficult. In such cases, the Univent System tube may be of help. It has a curved movable blocker of small calibre, and is designed to slide inside the bronchial tree and occlude all or part of the target lung.

CASE REPORT

We describe a new application of the Univent System tube in three cases where intubation was presumed to be difficult, and in another with unexpected difficult intubation. The laryngeal approach was carried out with the distally displaced blocker, inserting it through the sub-epiglottis or the posterior commissure visible orifice. The tube was firmly held and slid through the length of the blocker, rotating slowly until fully introduced. The advantages and criteria for its use are discussed.

CONCLUSION

Although the double-lumen tube is the first choice for one-lung ventilation, the Univent tube is a good option for selective bronchial intubation and in patients in whom difficult intubation is predicted.

Placement of left double-lumen endobronchial tubes with or without a stylet

PURPOSE

This study was designed to determine if leaving a stylet in the left Bronch-Cath endobronchial tube (DLT) for the entire intubating procedure improves the accuracy of placement on the initial attempt, without introducing complications.

METHODS

Sixty ASA 1-3 patients were randomized to one of two groups. In Group 1 (n = 30), the stylet was retained for the entire intubation procedure and in Group 2 (n = 30), the stylet was removed once the bronchial cuff had passed the vocal cords. In both groups, the DLT was turned 110 degrees counterclockwise and advanced until resistance was encountered. Placement was assessed by auscultation and fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB). After surgery, the DLT was replaced by a single-lumen endotracheal tube. The thoracic surgeon (blinded to the method of intubation, and using a FOB) assessed the appearance of the tracheobronchial mucosa.

RESULTS

The two groups were similar with respect to sex, height, weight, DLT size, surgeon and expertise of the laryngoscopist. When the stylet was retained, the DLT was correctly placed 60% of the time compared with 17%, if the stylet was removed, (P = 0.001). Seven out of 30 DLTs in Group 2 were initially placed into the right mainstem bronchus, (P = 0.005). The average time to confirmation of correct tube placement by FOB was increased in Group 2, (P = 0.01). Although the observed incidence of left bronchial, mucosal petechiae and erythema was greater in Group 2, this was not statistically significant, (P = 0.063).

CONCLUSION

Retaining the stylet for the entire intubation procedure allows for a more rapid, accurate placement of the DLT without increasing the incidence of tracheobronchial mucosa injury.

Membranous tracheal rupture after endotracheal intubation

BACKGROUND

Tracheobronchial rupture after tracheal intubation has been infrequently reported. We report 6 cases of membranous tracheal rupture after endotracheal intubation treated at our institution over 7 years.

METHODS

Overinflation of the tracheal cuff was speculated to be a frequent cause of the tracheal damage because the lesion was always a linear laceration of the posterior membranous wall. The diagnosis was suspected on the basis of common signs such as subcutaneous emphysema, respiratory distress, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was the best means of confirming the diagnosis and determining the location and extent of the lesion. In 5 patients, extensive laceration with severe respiratory disorders required emergent repair through a right posterolateral thoracotomy.

RESULTS

There were two postoperative deaths unrelated to the tracheal lesion. A patient with a small tracheal defect and favorable clinical presentation showed a rapid positive outcome after conservative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Tracheal intubation-related airway ruptures are rare but probably underestimated. Early recognition and emergent repair are essential, because failure to do so could result in potentially lethal events.

Pro: one-lung ventilation is best accomplished with the Univent endotracheal tube

Over the years, thoracotomy has changed from a procedure that prompted major concern over cross-contamination caused by infection to pulmonary tumors. Assisting the thoracic surgeon by providing OLV is one of the most specialized skills an anesthesiologist can offer. This must be done in a safe, easy, and efficient manner. The Univent tube appears to be a hybrid, combining the best qualities of both the DLT and the single-lumen endotracheal tube with separate Fogarty-like catheter. The Univent tube is a technical improvement over separate endobronchial blocking catheters because its blocker shaft is attached to the main tube and, therefore, displacement is less likely. In addition, the Univent's axial blocker shaft has a lumen that provides for irrigation, suction, oxygen insufflation, CPAP, and HFV. Though equally as effective as the DLT in treatment of intraoperative hypoxemia, the Univent tube presents a unique advantage in the areas of aspiration prevention, prolonged intubation without tube exchange, and selective blockade of lung segments. The Univent tube is also easier to insert and has fewer associated risks compared to the DLT. Is it my purpose to suggest that because the Univent tube is equal to, or better than, the DLT in many areas, we should abandon the use of DLTs? Definitely not. Double-lumen tubes have performed well in the past and will continue to offer specialized functions, such as postoperative independent lung ventilation in single-lung transplant recipients. As with the acquisition of any new medical skill, the use of the Univent tube has a learning curve. It is worth the time and effort to learn to use the Univent tube.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)