Congenital Hairy Polyp Causing Severe Upper Airway Obstruction in a Newborn: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Hairy polyps are rare tumors mainly comprising fatty tissues covered by skin and hair follicles, with varied localizations and sizes. Early excision of the polyps by surgery is an effective treatment resulting in a permanent cure. We present a case of successful management of severe obstruction of the oropharynx in a newborn who presented with a large mass of congenital hairy polyp. CASE REPORT A vaginally delivered infant, weighing 3 kg, presented immediately after birth with cyanosis symptoms, failure of the first cry, and respiratory distress signs. The newborn was born to a mother with an uneventful pregnancy. Screening tests during the pregnancy reported no congenital anomalies. The newborn's hematological and biochemical test results were normal. After presenting these symptoms, the newborn was immediately intubated and put on a nasogastric feeding tube, which revealed a small portion of a polyp-like mass. A computed tomography (CT) scan further confirmed a large pedunculated mass, measuring 3×2 cm, arising from the soft palate, and obstructing the oropharynx. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a hairy polyp. The polyp was wholly removed transorally using the Covidien LigaSure device without the need for endoscopy. This procedure allowed safe extubation, and the baby was discharged home without symptoms 4 days after birth. CONCLUSIONS This case sheds light on the importance of considering hairy polyp in the differential diagnosis of pharyngeal mass with respiratory distress in pediatric patients. This report also describes our experience using the LigaSure surgical device without needing endoscopic visualization to successfully resect the hairy polyp without complications.

Acute upper airway obstruction due to tonsillitis necessitating emergency cricothyroidotomy.

A 17-year-old man was admitted to Accident & Emergency out of hours with unilateral tonsillar enlargement covering more than 75% of his oropharyngeal inlet. He appeared calm and stable on initial presentation, but in a short span of time rapidly deteriorated, leading to near complete airway obstruction necessitating an emergency awake cricothyroidotomy. Tracheostomy and tonsillectomy were done after this, he was ventilated postoperatively in intensive therapy unit and discharged home in a week. This is a rare clinical scenario in a patient presenting with palatine tonsillitis. A few subtle points in the history and examination alerted the team and prevented a risky inter hospital transfer for ear, nose and throat review. This is the first reported case in UK of palatine tonsillitis not due to infectious mononucleosis presenting with acute upper airway obstruction in a patient with no airway anomalies. It may also have been a varied presentation of COVID-19.

Nasopharyngeal diffuse large B-cells lymphoma causing acute airway obstruction amid COVID-19 crisis: an anaesthetist's nightmare.

Acute stridor is often an airway emergency. We present a valuable experience handling an elderly woman who was initially treated as COVID-19 positive during the pandemic in November 2020. She needed an urgent tracheostomy due to nasopharyngeal (NP) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma causing acute airway obstruction. Fortunately, 1 hour later, her NP swab real-time PCR test result returned as SARS-CoV-2 negative. This interesting article depicts the importance of adequate preparations when handling potentially infectious patients with anticipated difficult airway and the perioperative issues associated with it.

Case Report of Acute Airway Obstruction Caused by Transglottic Squamous Carcinoma (Stage IV) During the Coronavirus Pandemic Cured by ECMO-Assisted Tracheostomy.

Acute airway obstruction caused by invasive laryngeal cancer can make surgeons reluctant to perform a high-risk tracheostomy, which is life-saving for such patients. In the setting of the current COVID19 pandemic, we present a case of severe transglottic stenosis due to stage IV laryngeal carcinoma, in which gaseous exchange was facilitated by venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation prior to emergent tracheostomy. The VV technique can ensure adequate oxygenation and CO2 removal. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation provided sufficient time for surgical planning and preparation. It reduced the formation of aerosol, lowered the risk associated with life-saving tracheostomy, and protected the patient from ischemia.

Surgical Considerations for an Awake Tracheotomy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The current global COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the novel coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Given that SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible, surgical societies have recommended that procedures with a high risk of aerosolization be avoided or delayed. However, some high-risk procedures, such as those related to head and neck malignancies, cannot always be delayed. Care must be taken during aerosol-generating procedures to minimize viral transmission as much as possible. Preoperative testing for COVID-19, limited operating room personnel, adequate personal protective equipment, and surgical technique are factors to consider for high-risk procedures. Methods: This article presents the case of an awake tracheotomy performed for a transglottic mass causing airway obstruction. Results: With detailed planning and specific techniques, the amount of aerosolization was reduced, and the procedure was performed as safely as possible. Conclusion: This case provides a template for future aerosol-generating procedures during respiratory pandemics.