Cuidados de las fístulas traqueoesofágicas postintubación / Care of the post-intubation tracheoesophageal fistulae

RESUMEN Introducción: Las fístulas traqueoesofágicas posintubación son lesiones graves que presentan alta frecuencia de complicaciones y mortalidad. Objetivo: Actualizar el diagnóstico y tratamiento de pacientes con esta afección. Método: Se revisó la literatura en PUBMED/Medline e Infomed con las palabras clave: fístula, traqueoesofágica, fístula traqueoesofágica, postintubación y las correspondientes en inglés. Se revisaron las referencias bibliográficas de los artículos en busca de publicaciones relevantes. Se escogieron, preferentemente, trabajos prospectivos. Los informes de casos sólo se tomaron en cuenta cuando hacían referencia a alguna técnica novedosa. Desarrollo: Se encontraron 4260 artículos en Medline/Pubmed y 17 en Infomed. No se encontraron ensayos clínicos, metanálisis, ni revisiones sistemáticas. La mayoría de los artículos revisados hacen referencia a presentación de casos y algunos fueron estudios retrospectivos. Las presentaciones de casos se usaron solo si describían una técnica novedosa. Conclusiones: La intubación endotraqueal prolongada es la causa principal de FTEs. La patogenia se asocia con isquemia secundaria a compresión de las paredes traqueal posterior yesofágica anterior, entre el manguito insuflado del tubo endotraqueal y la sonda nasogástrica. El tratamiento conservador, generalmente, no cura la fístula, pero puede limitar la contaminación del árbol traqueobronquial y garantiza la nutrición. La derivación esofágica raramente está indicada, excepto cuando persiste entrada a la VR del contenido gastrointestinal. Actualmente, el tratamiento definitivo es la sutura esofágica y, en la mayoría de los casos, la resección y anastomosis traqueal(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Post-intubation tracheoesophageal fistulae are severe lesions with high frequency of complication and high rate of mortality. Objective: To update the knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of patients with this disease. Method: Literature review made in PUBMEDF/Medline and Infomed using the keywords: fistula, traqueoesophageal, tracheoesophageal fistula, and post-intubation in Spanish and English. References of articles were also reviewed to find out relevant publications. Prospective papers were particularly chosen. The case reports were only taken into account when they made reference to some novel technique. Results: In this search, 4260 articles were found in Medline/Pubmed and 17 in Infomed databases. No clinical assays, meta-analysis or systematic reviews were found. Most of the articles made reference to case reports and some to retrospective studies. The case reports were only used if they described a novel technique. Conclusions: Prolonged endotracheal intubation is the main cause of traqueoesophageal fistula. The pathogeny is associated to ischemia secondary to compression of posterior tracheal wall and anterior esophageal wall between the inflated cuff of the endotracheal tube and the nasogastric probe. In general, the conservative treatment does not cure the fistula but may restrict contamination of the tracheobronchial tree and guarantee nutrition. The esophageal shunt is rarely indicated, except when the gastrointestinal content continues entering into the VR. At present, the definitive treatment is the esophageal suturing and in most of cases, the resection and tracheal anastomosis(AU)

Cytokines and Defensins in Tissue Biopsies Obtained by Bronchoscopy from Patients with Post-Intubation Tracheal Stenosis.

Aims: The objective of our study was to perform the routine analysis of bronchoscopically obtained tracheal samples to determine the appearance and relative distribution of cytokines and antimicrobial proteins in patients with post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS). Study Design: Retrospective. Place and Duration of Study: Rīga Stradiņš University, Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, between May 2014 and May 2015. Methodology: Five patients with PITS were involved in this study. Tissue samples were obtained by bronchoscopy from the upper part of trachea, then proceeded for routine histological staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Interleukine-1 (IL-1), interleukine-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), as well as beta defensin-2 (β def-2) were detected by use of immunohistochemistry (IMH) method. The number of immunoreactive (positive) structures was graded semi-quantitatively. Results: Squamous metaplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration and formation of granulation tissue were observed in all cases. Significant expression of IL-10 and β def-2 was seen as various number of immunoreactive structures in tracheal tissue. Only few scattered IL-1 and TNFα positive macrophages were found in part of cases. Conclusions: The leading role in pathogenesis of post-intubation tracheal stenosis is assumed to be the chronic inflammation, fibrous scarring, as well as the remodeling of tracheal wall due to the ischemia. Compensatory expression of antimicrobial peptide β def-2 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 indicates the intense local tissue defense reactions. TNFα and IL-1 are not among the most significant factors in pathogenesis of PITS.

Prognostic Factors for Endotracheal Silicone Stenting in the Management of Inoperable Post-Intubation Tracheal Stenosis

PURPOSE: Stenting has been developed to deal with airway stenosis and is applicable in patients with post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) in whom surgery would not be indicated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors in inoperable patients in whom a silicone stent was inserted due to PITS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 55 PITS patients undergoing silicone stenting between January 2001 and December 2009. RESULTS: Silicone stent was inserted to narrowed trachea after the combination of pre-dilatation including laser cauterization, mechanical bougienation and ballooning. Following airway stabilization, the stent could be removed successfully in 40% (22/55) of the patients after median 12 months of stenting. However, in 60% (33/55) of patients, the stent could not be removed successfully and surgical management was needed after initial stabilization. Multivariate analysis revealed that the stent could be successfully removed more frequently in those who do not have cardiovascular disease [odds ratio (OR)=12.195; p=0.036] and the intervention was performed within 6 months after intubation (OR=13.029; p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Among those patients undergoing silicone stenting due to PITS, the stent could be successfully removed when patients do not have cardiovascular disease and stented within 6 months after intubation.