Incidental Tracheocele as an Unusual Presentation of Pneumomediastinum in the Trauma Setting.

BACKGROUND Tracheocele are rarely encountered air cysts formed due to tracheal wall outpouching through a weak vantage point. The majority are acquired in the adult population and are associated with conditions that weaken the tracheal wall. Most tracheoceles are diagnosed incidentally since many are asymptomatic or present with nonspecific symptoms. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans are the most common imaging modality for diagnosis of silent tracheal cysts. Tracheocele have been very rarely documented in the trauma setting; therefore, in the setting of multiple body trauma diagnosis can be challenging. CASE REPORT We report a case of an acquired tracheocele after a high-impact blunt thoracic trauma with an admission diagnosis of suspected tracheal perforation. MDCT of the neck and chest demonstrated an irregularly multicystic-shaped air collection at the right posterolateral trachea upon evaluation. Flexible laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy results were unremarkable. CONCLUSIONS Tracheocele are rare and asymptomatic pseudo-diverticulum of the tracheal wall. Many are diagnosed incidentally with imaging studies for other conditions. Nevertheless, in the trauma setting its diagnosis can be challenging and misleading. Consideration of conditions such as tracheocele is important to prevent any unwarranted treatment modalities.

Laryngeal dysplasia, demographics, and treatment: a single-institution, 20-year review.

IMPORTANCE: Laryngeal dysplasia is a common disease entity that remains clinically frustrating because functional outcomes are balanced against oncologic results. Understanding evolution in dysplasia demographics, treatment, and progression rates may inform better therapy in the future. OBJECTIVES: To review laryngeal dysplasia cases at a single institution during the last 20 years and identify changes in patient demographics, categorize treatment approaches, and review rates of progression to cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this retrospective medical record review, patients with laryngeal dysplasia treated at an academic medical center were identified on review of pathology records. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were organized by date of dysplasia diagnosis, divided into 2 groups (group 1, January 1, 1993, through December 31, 2002; group 2, January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012), and compared against one another. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Age at diagnosis, sex, type of treatment, and progression to malignant disease were analyzed from one period to the next. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were identified through review of pathology databases. Progression of dysplasia to cancer remained roughly stable across periods, at 8.8% and 8.0%, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis decreased from 68.7 to 61.7 years over time, with a statistically significant trend toward presentation at younger ages. The male to female ratio was 3.75 in group 1 and 3.17 in group 2, with a trend toward a greater proportion of females over time that did not reach statistical significance. Use of radiotherapy remained stable across groups, with increased use of microflap excision techniques and laser treatment (especially photoangiolytic lasers) in group 2. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Overall, progression of laryngeal dysplasia to cancer has remained stable during the past 20 years at a rate of approximately 8%. Although laryngeal dysplasia remains a disease predominantly found in males, there is a demographic trend toward diagnosis at earlier ages. Treatment choices may slowly be changing over time, although multi-institutional studies may be required to better categorize this shift.

Voice quality in laryngotracheal stenosis: impact of dilation and level of stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of suspension microlaryngoscopy with balloon dilation on voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) in laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of LTS patients dilated at a tertiary-care academic hospital from 2010 to 2013. Data were obtained and then analyzed. LTS was stratified by (1) subglottic or tracheal stenosis and (2) multilevel stenosis (MLS; glottic and subglottic/tracheal). Pre- and postoperative V-RQOL and grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain (GRBAS) scores were compared. The number and frequency of balloon dilation procedures over the lifetime were secondary outcome variables. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were identified: 26 subglottic/tracheal and 12 multilevel. Of these, 71.4% required multiple dilations, with greatest dilations/patient for multilevel stenosis (4.8). V-RQOL improved in the 27 patients with completed pre- and postoperative scores from a mean of 70.4 to 80 (P=.025). Pre/postoperative V-RQOLs for tracheal/subglottic (mean, 82.8/93.8) were significantly higher (P=.0001/.0001) than multilevel stenosis (48/55.3). Voice quality-of-life improvement was significant for the subglottic/tracheal cohort (P=.036) but not for the MLS group. GRBAS was performed pre- and postoperatively in 10 patients with improvement in all domains except breathiness. CONCLUSION: Laryngotracheal stenosis is associated with dysphonia. Patients with glottic involvement have significantly worse voice quality of life than those with tracheal/subglottic stenosis. Endoscopic balloon dilation improves V-RQOL in patients with subglottic/tracheal stenosis.

Complications of airway management.

Although endotracheal intubation is commonly performed in the hospital setting, it is not without risk. In this article, we review the impact of endotracheal intubation on airway injury by describing the acute and long-term sequelae of each of the most commonly injured anatomic sites along the respiratory tract, including the nasal cavity, oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and trachea. Injuries covered include nasoseptal injury, tongue injury, dental injury, mucosal lacerations, vocal cord immobility, and laryngotracheal stenosis, as well as tracheomalacia, tracheoinnominate, and tracheoesophageal fistulas. We discuss the proposed mechanisms of tissue damage that relate to each and present their most common clinical manifestations, along with their respective diagnostic and management options. This article also includes a review of complications of airway management pertaining to video laryngoscopy and supraglottic airway devices. Finally, potential strategies to prevent intubation-associated injuries are outlined.