Thoracic surgery clinics
-
Thoracic surgery clinics · May 2018
ReviewTracheobronchomalacia and Expiratory Collapse of Central Airways.
Tracheobronchomalacia is an uncommon acquired disorder of the central airways. Common symptoms include dyspnea, constant coughing, inability to raise secretions, and recurrent respiratory infections. Evaluation includes an inspiratory-expiratory chest CT (dynamic CT), an awake functional bronchoscopy, and pulmonary function studies. ⋯ The posterior airway is exposed after the azygous vein is ligated. Patients report generally good results with improvement of their symptoms. Quality of life is usually improved, whereas pulmonary function tests usually are not improved.
-
Thoracic surgery clinics · May 2018
Review Historical ArticleTracheal Injuries Complicating Prolonged Intubation and Tracheostomy.
Respiratory care advances such as the introduction of ventilatory assistance have been associated with postintubation airway stenosis resulting from tracheal injury at the site of the inflatable cuff on endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes. Low-pressure cuffs have significantly reduced this occurrence. ⋯ Subglottic stenosis may result from a high tracheostomy site at, or just inferior to, the cricoid arch, or to malposition of an endotracheal tube cuff. Awareness of these complications and their causes is essential to prevent their occurrence.