Laryngotracheal transplantation: technical modifications and functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Laryngeal transplantation offers the potential for patients without a larynx to recover their voice, which is critical in our communication age. We report clinical and functional outcomes from a laryngotracheal transplant. Widespread adoption of this technique has been slowed due to the ethical concerns of life-long immunosuppression after a nonvital organ transplant. Our patient was already on immunosuppressive medication from prior kidney-pancreas transplantation, and therefore was not exposed to added long-term risk. We describe the unique technical advances, clinical course, and rehabilitation of this patient and the implications for future laryngeal transplantation. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A laryngotracheal transplantation was performed in a 51-year-old prior kidney-pancreas transplant recipient presenting with complete laryngotracheal stenosis. Surgical modifications were made in the previously described technique related to retrieval, vascular supply, and reinnervation. This resulted in a robustly vascularized organ with well-perfused long-segment tracheal transplant and early return of motor reinnervation. RESULTS: A multidisciplinary approach resulted in a successful transplant without evidence of rejection to date. Postoperatively, the patient continues to rely on a tracheotomy but has had the return of an oral and nasal airway, vocalization, smell, and taste, all experienced for the first time in 11 years. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that our methods may result in a successful laryngotracheal transplant. We describe the preparation, surgical technique, rehabilitation, and interventions employed in achieving optimal outcomes. This report contributes valuable information on this rarely performed composite transplant.

Cardiac output monitoring during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare monitors of cardiac output during repositioning and stabilization of the heart for off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, clinical study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients scheduled to undergo elective OPCAB (n = 19). INTERVENTIONS: Monitoring, induction, and anesthesia followed a routine protocol for coronary artery bypass patients. This included the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and pulmonary artery catheter placement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After positioning and stabilization for OPCAB surgery, the changes in descending aortic flow velocity (VTI) times heart rate (HR) and the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO(2)) could be used to predict the changes in thermodilution cardiac output (TDCO) using the following model: deltaTDCO((calc))=-13.15+0.35(deltaVTI*HR)+0.61(deltaSvO(2)) where Delta indicates the percentage change from baseline values. The changes in mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and continuous cardiac output did not correlate with the changes in TDCO. CONCLUSION: The use of the VTI*HR, as determined by TEE, in addition to the SvO(2) can strengthen clinical decision making during repositioning and stabilization of the heart during OPCAB. Changes in the VTI*HR and SvO(2) can be used as surrogate markers for changes in CO during OPCAB surgery.