Respiratory distress and tracheal deviation secondary to sigmoid volvulus / Dificultad respiratoria y desviación traqueal secundaria a vólvulo sigmoideo ­ Un reporte de caso

INTRODUCTION: The trachea is a semiflexible tube of 1.5 to 2 cm in width and 10 to 13 cm in length. Its deviation might be caused by not only diverse thoracic but also abdominal pathologies, which may compromise the airway. We present a case of a severe tracheal deviation due to an abdominal pathology causing displacement of mediastinal structures. CLINICAL CASE: A 78-year-old woman presents with difficulty breathing. History of chronic bedridden and frequently constipated, last stool 5 days prior. On physical examination, cachectic complexion, dry mucous membranes, breathing superficially with scarce wheezing, SatO2 82% on room air. Abdomen distended with an absence of bowel sounds. Chest x-rays show severe tracheal deviation and abdominal x-ray with coffee bean sign. A laparotomy evidences a large sigmoid volvulus. A sigmoidectomy and descending colon colostomy is performed. Room air oxygen saturation improved after extubation to 96%.CONCLUSION: Desaturation and tracheal deviation were caused by a large sigmoid volvulus. Although these pathologies were thoracic, clinicians should suspect different underlying pathologies, in this case, abdominal

INTRODUCCIÓN: La tráquea es un tubo semiflexible de 1-5 a 2 cm de ancho y 10 a 13 cm de longitud. Puede presentar desviaciones en su trayecto, no solo por patologías torácicas, sino también abdominales, las cuales pueden comprometer la vía aérea. Presentamos el caso de una desviación severa de la tráquea por una patología abdominal que ocasionó desplazamiento de las estructuras mediastinales. REPORTE DE CASO: Mujer de 78 años que se presenta por dificultad respiratoria. Antecedente de postramiento crónico en cama y estreñimiento frecuente, con última deposición 5 días previos. En la exploración física presenta complexión caquéctica, mucosas secas, respiración superficial con sibilancias, saturando 82% al aire ambiente. Abdomen distendido con ausencia de ruidos intestinales. Radiografía torácica muestra desviación traqueal severa y la radiografía abdominal muestra signo del grano de café. En el abordaje por laparotomía se evidencia un vólvulo sigmoideo grande. Se realizó sigmoidectomía y colostomía del colon descendiente. La saturación al aire ambiente mejoró después de la extubación a 96%. CONCLUSIÓN: La desaturación y desviación traqueal fueron causadas por un vólvulo sigmoideo grande. Aunque estas patologías eran torácicas, el clínico debe sospechar diferentes patologías de base, como en este caso, abdominales.

Lesión traqueal como hallazgo radiológico. A propósito de un caso / Tracheal injury as a radiological finding. Case report

Tracheal injury can occur as a rare complication of endotracheal intubation, associated with multiple anatomical and mechanical factors that have been described; however, the actual incidence is unknown due to the few series of documented cases that are reported worldwide. It is considered a fatal complication when it occurs and a diagnosis is not established in a timely manner. We present the case of a patient with active SARS-CoV-2 infection and a history of congenital malformation, who presented a tracheal lesion secondary to reintubation as a radiological finding.

La lesión traqueal puede ocurrir como complicación rara de una intubación endotraqueal, asociada a múltiples factores que han sido descritos de tipo anatómico y mecánico, sin embargo, la incidencia real se desconoce por las pocas series de casos documentados que se reportan a nivel mundial. Considera como una complicación mortal cuando se presenta y no se establece un diagnóstico de forma oportuna. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con infección activa de SARS-CoV-2 y antecedente de malformación congénita, que presentó como hallazgo radiológico una lesión traqueal secundaria a reintubación.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica / Traqueobroncopatia osteocondroplástica

ABSTRACT Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare benign disease, of unknown cause, characterized by numerous sessile, cartilaginous, or bony submucosal nodules distributed throughout the anterolateral walls, projecting into the laryngotracheobronchial lumen. In general, tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is diagnosed incidentally during bronchoscopy or autopsy and is not associated with a specific disease. We report the case of a male patient who was diagnosed with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica via bronchoscopy and biopsy.

RESUMO A traqueobroncopatia osteocondroplástica é uma doença benigna rara, de causa desconhecida, caracterizada por numerosos nódulos submucosos sésseis, cartilaginosos e/ou ósseos, distribuídos pelas paredes anterolaterais da traqueia, projetando-se no lúmen laringotraqueobrônquico. Em geral, a traqueobroncopatia osteocondroplástica é descoberta acidentalmente durante broncoscopias ou em necropsias e não é associada a uma doença específica. Relatamos o caso de um paciente que foi diagnosticado com traqueobroncopatia osteocondroplástica por broncoscopia e biópsia.

Un nuevo caso de pseudotumor inflamatorio de la tráquea / A new case of inflammatory tracheal tumor

El pseudotumor inflamatorio de tráquea es poco frecuente y puede simular un tumor cuando se localiza en la luz traqueal o bronquial. El objetivo del presente artículo fue presentar un nuevo caso y revisar la literatura especializada. Se trató de una paciente de 23 años de edad, con cuadro de disnea de varios años de evolución, tratada con el diagnóstico de asma bronquial. Fue intervenida de urgencia por empeoramiento de la disnea y diagnóstico de tumor intratraqueal, según estudio broncoscópico. Se practicó la resección de 5 anillos traqueales con anastomosis término-terminal. La evolución posoperatoria fue satisfactoria y la paciente se encuentra libre de recidiva 5 años después de la operación(AU)

The inflammatory tracheal pseudotumor is rare and it may mimic a tumor when it is located in the tracheal or bronchial light. The objective of this article was to present a new case and to review the specialized literature. The case of a 23-year-old patient with a picture of dyspnea of several years of evolution treated with diagnosis of bronchial asthma was reported. She underwent emergency surgery due the worsening of dypsnea and to the diagnosis of intratracheal tumor according to a bronchoscopic study. The resection of 5 tracheal rings was performed with termino-terminal anastomosis. The postoperative evolution was satisfactory and the patient has been free of relapse five years after the operation(AU)

Evaluation of Tracheobronchial Diseases: Comparison of Different Imaging Techniques

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical utility of the different imaging techniques used for the evaluation of tracheobronchial diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with tracheobronchial diseases [tuberculosis (n = 18), bronchogenic carcinoma (n = 10), congenital abnormality (n = 3), post-operative stenosis (n = 2), and others (n = 8)] underwent chest radi-ography and spiral CT. Two sets of scan data were obtained: one from routine thick-section axial images and the other from thin-section axial images. Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and shaded surface display (SSD) images were obtained from thin-section data. Applying a 5-point scale, two observers compared chest radiography, routine CT, thin-section spiral CT, MPR and SSD imaging with regard to the detection, localization, extent, and characterization of a lesion, information on its relationship with adjacent structures, and overall information. RESULTS: SSD images were the most informative with regard to the detection (3.95 +/-0.31), localization (3.95 +/-0.22) and extent of a lesion (3.85 +/-0.42), and overall information (3.83 +/-0.44), while thin-section spiral CT scans provided most information regarding its relationship with adjacent structures (3.56 +/-0.50) and characterization of the lesion (3.51 +/-0.61). CONCLUSION: SSD images and thin-section spiral CT scans can provide valuable information for the evaluation of tracheobronchial disease.