Lesiones laringotraqueales por ahorcamiento fallido / Laryngotracheal lesions by near-hanging

Introducción: La lesión por ahorcamiento se inscribe dentro del traumatismo cerrado de la tráquea cervical. Objetivo: Presentar seis enfermos tratados por secuelas de un intento fallido de ahorcamiento y revisión la literatura sobre los métodos diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de seis pacientes tratados entre 1989 y 2011 en el Hospital "Hermanos Ameijeiras". Todos fueron remitidos de diferentes hospitales, con una traqueostomía para el control de la vía respiratoria. Las variables estudiadas fueron: sexo, edad, diagnóstico definitivo, técnicas quirúrgicas empleadas, evolución posoperatoria, complicaciones y mortalidad. Resultados: Todos los pacientes fueron del sexo masculino, con edad entre 16 y 66 años (mediana 28,5). Cuatro tenían menos de 30 años, uno 38 y el último 66. El diagnóstico se hizo mediante traqueoscopia flexible y tomografía axial computarizada. La lesión se localizó en subglotis (2) y tráquea (4). Dos pacientes fueron operados antes de la remisión: resección traqueal (1) y laringotraqueal (1). El tratamiento definitivo, en nuestro centro, consistió en resección traqueal (4) y subglótica (2). No se presentaron complicaciones ni fallecidos. Durante el seguimiento postoperatorio (7 a 26 meses), cinco lesionados tuvieron resultados excelentes y uno satisfactorio, asociado con voz débil. Conclusiones: El traumatismo traqueal por ahorcamiento fallido es muy raro. El tratamiento oportuno y adecuado puede reducir las complicaciones y la mortalidad. Un equipo quirúrgico con experiencia puede lograr resultados satisfactorios en un grupo importante de lesionados. La traqueostomía, con anestesia local, es el método de elección para controlar la VR en pacientes con traumatismo cervical(AU)

Introduction: The hanging injury is considered a closed trauma of the cervical trachea. Objective: To present the cases of six patients treated for sequelae after failed hanging attempt, and to review the literature about diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out of six consecutive patients treated between 1989 and 2011 at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital. All were referred from different hospitals, with a tracheostomy for controlling the airway. The variables studied were sex, age, definitive diagnosis, surgical techniques used, postoperative evolution, complications and mortality. Results: All patients were male, aged between 16 and 66 years (median: 28.5). Four were less than 30 years old; one, 38; and the last, 66. The diagnosis was made by flexible tracheoscopy and computerized axial tomography. The injury was located in the subglottis (2) and the trachea (4). Two patients were operated on before referral, through tracheal (1) and laryngotracheal (1) resection. Definitive treatment in our center consisted of tracheal (4) and subglottic (2) resection. There were no complications or deaths. During the postoperative follow-up (7-26 months), five injured patients had excellent outcomes and one had satisfactory outcomes, associated with a weak voice. Conclusions: Tracheal trauma after failed hanging is very rare. Timely and appropriate managment can reduce complications and mortality. An experienced surgical team can achieve satisfactory outcomes in a large group of injured people. Tracheostomy, under local anesthesia, is the method of choice for controlling the airways in patients with cervical trauma(AU)

Autologous tracheal cartilage composite graft for a subglottic defect after laryngotracheal resection for invasive papillary thyroid carcinoma

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To present a function-preserving surgical technique of post-laryngotracheal resection reconstruction of the subglottic airway using autologous tracheal cartilage composite graft.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>     Design:</strong>            Case Report</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>     Setting:</strong>           Tertiary Government Training Hospital</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>     Participants:</strong>   One</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULT: </strong>A 77-year-old woman diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma with laryngotracheal invasion underwent total thyroidectomy with laryngotracheal resection. The tracheal defect was reconstructed using end-to-end anastomosis of the trachea to the remaining cricoid. The cricoid (subglottic) defect was repaired using the harvested tracheal cartilage with mucosa. Post-operatively, the patient was maintained on nasogastric tube feeding and tracheostomy tube for 2 weeks. Subsequently, the nasogastric tube and tracheostomy tube were removed and the patient tolerated oral feeding without any airway problem. The last follow-up of the patient was 6 months post-operatively without complications.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Autologous tracheal cartilage may be a potentially promising composite graft for reconstruction of the cricoid (subglottic) defect in a patient following laryngotracheal resection for invasive papillary thyroid carcinoma of the larynx and trachea.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>

Estenosis subglótica: reporte de casos / Subglottic stenosis: case report

Introducción: La estenosis subglótica (ES) plantea un desafío clínico constante dado su alta morbimortalidad, diversidad de causas, localización, severidad y variedad de procedimientos terapéuticos. Objetivos: Determinar el perfil de pacientes con diagnóstico de ES, evaluar el tratamiento y sus resultados. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo mediante revisión de fichas clínicas de pacientes con ES entre 2008 y 2011. Se describen las características demográficas, factores de riesgo, sintomatología, tipo y grado de estenosis, tratamiento, porcentaje de decanulación y complicaciones. Resultados: 17 pacientes adultos fueron incluidos. Edad promedio: 51 ± 14,37 años. Sexo: 70,6% femenino, 29,4% masculino. El principal síntoma fue la disnea (76,5%). La ES con compromiso sólo de partes blandas (88,2%) y el grado III de severidad fueron predominantes. El tratamiento incluyó procedimientos endoscópicos (47%) y quirúrgicos abiertos (41%). La cirugía abierta, como único tratamiento o segundo paso presentó un porcentaje de decanulación menor al manejo endoscópico. La dilatación con broncoscopio presentó una tasa de éxito de 63%. La tasa de decanulación general fue 58,8%. Conclusiones: La ES es una patología compleja. La baja tasa de sospecha, sintomatología inespecífica y el retraso en la consulta hace necesaria la creación de equipos de vía aérea multidisciplinarios para su pesquisa y manejo.

Introduction: Subglottic stenosis (SE) pose a constant clinical challenge because it's high morbidity and mortality, diversity of causes, location, severity and variety of treatment procedures. Aim: Determine the profile of patients with SE and evaluate the treatment and its results. Material and method: Retrospective descriptive study by reviewing medical records of patients with SE between 2008 and 2011. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, symptoms, type and degree of stenosis, treatment, decannulation percentage and complications were described. Results: 17 adult patients were included. Average age: 51 ± 14.37 years. Sex: 70.6% female and 29.4% male. The main symptom was dyspnea (76.5%). The SE with only soft tissue involvement (88.2%) and grade III severity were predominant. For treatment endoscopic procedures (47%) and open surgery were used (41%). Open surgical technique as unique treatment or as a second step, was less successful compared to endoscopic treatment. Bronchoscopic dilatation had a success rate of 63%. The overall decannulation rate was 58.8%. Conclusions: The SE is a complex pathology. The low rate of suspicion, nonspecific symptoms and delay in medical consultation requires the creation of multidisciplinary teams for diagnosis and management.