Simple palliative mediastinal tracheostomy

Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 Jun;95(6):2185-7. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.01.024.

Abstract

We describe a simple palliative mediastinal tracheostomy procedure in 3 patients with respiratory deficiency resulting from cervical tracheal stenosis caused by unresectable advanced tumors. A hole in the "apron" skin flap was anastomosed to the tracheostomy in the unaffected upper mediastinal trachea after partial resection of the manubrium and clavicle head. Simple palliative mediastinal tracheostomy helps to improve performance status by relieving respiratory deficiency or prolonged oroendotracheal intubation in patients with cervical tracheal stenosis caused by advanced tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bronchoscopy / methods
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mediastinum / surgery*
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Patient Positioning
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sampling Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surgical Flaps / blood supply
  • Survival Rate
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Tracheal Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Tracheal Stenosis / etiology*
  • Tracheal Stenosis / surgery*
  • Tracheostomy / methods*