The use of ultrasound in the management of a life-threatening malignant laryngotracheal obstruction

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2018 Feb 1;26(2):335-337. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivx298.

Abstract

Ultrasound is becoming a valuable diagnostic tool in the armamentarium of thoracic surgeons. We report its use to follow stent placement in the laryngotracheal position for management of life-threatening neoplastic obstruction. For this purpose, a 15-MHz linear probe was placed in the midline at the level of the cricoid cartilage. Ultrasound performed daily at bedside showed normal movement of vocal folds and no stent dislocation. This strategy may be an alternative to computed tomography scan or endoscopy to follow stent placement in extrathoracic airways.

Keywords: Airway stenosis; Dilation; Primary tracheal tumour; Rigid bronchoscopy; Ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Bronchoscopy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Laryngostenosis / diagnosis
  • Laryngostenosis / etiology
  • Laryngostenosis / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stents*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Tracheal Stenosis / diagnosis
  • Tracheal Stenosis / etiology
  • Tracheal Stenosis / surgery*
  • Ultrasonography / methods*