• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.457-464
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• 2022

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that is commonly used to treat upper airway obstruction. In particular, patients with head and neck cancer may require elective or emergency tracheostomy because of airway obstruction due to massive bleeding of the intraoral tumor mass and rapid growth of the tumor mass in the neck area. Here, we report four cases of tracheostomy in patients with head and neck cancer with narrowed airway space and difficulty in breathing. Based on these cases and a literature review, we recommend that oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dental anesthesiologists should cooperate closely and determine the appropriate timing to perform definitive airway management for such patients during palliative treatment, along with continuous evaluation of tumor location, risk of recurrence, and airway involvement.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.19.1-19.7
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the usefulness of tracheostomy scoring system in the decision of postoperative airway management in oral cancer patients. Materials and methods: A total of 104 patients were reviewed in this retrospective study, who underwent radical resection with or without neck dissection and free flap reconstruction due to oral cancer. The patients were classified into three groups according to the timing of the extubation; extubated groups (n = 51), overnight intubation group (n = 45), and tracheostomy group (n = 8). Cameron's score was used to evaluate the relation between the state of the patient's airway and the type of the operation. Results: Tracheostomy was performed in eight patients (8/104, 7.7 %). A total of 22 patients (21.2 %) had more than 5 points of which 17 patients (77.3 %) did not have a tracheostomy and any postoperative emergency airway problems. The tracheostomy scores were significantly different among the three groups. Hospital stay showed a significant correlation with the tracheostomy score. Conclusions: The scoring system did not quite agree with the airway management of the authors' clinic; however, it can be one of the clinical factors predicting the degree of the postoperative airway obstruction and surgical aggressiveness for recovery. The further studies are needed for clinically more reliable scoring systems.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early tracheostomy on clinical outcomes in patients requiring prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (≥96 hours). Methods: Data from 575 patients (69.4% male; median age, 68 years), hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital March 2008-February 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Early and late tracheostomy were designated as 2-10 days and >10 days after translaryngeal intubation, respectively. Results: The 90-day cumulative mortality rate was 47.5% (n=273) and 258 patients (44.9%) underwent tracheostomy. In comparison with the late group (n=115), the early group (n=125) had lower 90-day mortality (31.2% vs. 47.8%, p=0.012), shorter stays in hospital and ICU, shorter ventilator length of stay (median, 43 vs. 54; 24 vs. 33; 23 vs. 28 days; all p<0.001), and a higher rate of transfer to secondary care hospitals with post-intensive care settings (67.2% vs. 43.5% p<0.001). Also, the total medical costs of the early group were lower during hospital stays than those of the late group (26,609 vs. 36,973 USD, p<0.001). Conclusion: Early tracheostomy was associated with lower 90-day mortality, shorter ventilator length of stay and shorter lengths of stays in hospital and ICU, as well as lower hospital costs than late tracheostomy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2016

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has become an increasingly popular method of establishing an airway for patients in need of chronic ventilator assistance. We report a rare case of a 42-year-old female who developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema, bilateral pneumothoraces, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoperitoneum after percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. The patient suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and underwent PDT after a period of mechanical ventilation. During PDT, tracheostomy tube was inserted into the paratracheal space. Follow-up chest radiography and computed tomography of chest and abdomen revealed extensive subcutaneous emphysema, bilateral pneumothoraces, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoperitoneum. The patient was treated successfully with insertion of the thoracostomy tube and conservative care.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.244-247
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• 1996

Most of bronchial foreign bodies can be removed by ventilation bronchoscopy through transoral route but sometimes, ventilation bronchoscopy through tracheostomy is helpful procedure. Recently, we have experienced a case of bronchial foreign body which could be easily removed by nasal endoscopy and Blakesley forcep instead of bronchoscopy. So we report this case with a review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.496-496
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• 1980

A 37 year old male patient was suffered from severe labored breathing caused by post tracheostomy stenosis, which was localized at the mediastinal trachea [cuffed tracheal stenosis] and ranged 1.5 cm in length and approximately 3 ram. in diameter on tracheogram. After dilation of tracheal stenosis with dilator, endotracheal intubation was tried for induction of anesthesia and control of respiration during operation. A tube was placed just beyond the tracheal stenosis without respiratory difficulty. Under the endotracheal anesthesia, circumferential resection of the mediastinal trachea containing the stenosis, approximately 2 cm in length [4 tracheal rings}, was carried out and primary direct end to end anastomosis was performed with interrupted submucosal sutures [3-0 Dexon] and mobilization of trachea Postoperative tracheostomy was not performed. The patient was completely relieved from dyspnea immediately after operation. Post-operative convalescence was entirely uneventful and at present, about 3 months after operation, he is now conducting a usual life. From the literature and our experience, the etiology and treatment of post-tracheostomy stenosis were discussed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.73-76
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• 1982

For the treatment of acute respiratory failure and emergency care of an urgent patient, tracheostomy in itself may have been a life saving procedure. But, among the variable complications following tracheostomy, the tracheal stenosis gives serious clinical manifestation which can only be corrected by surgical intervention in many occasions. At the Dept. of thoracic surgery, CAFGH, we have experienced one case of tracheal stenosis following tracheostomy for assisted ventilation. Tracheogram showed a 2.5 cm segmental narrowing 5 cm below the tracheostoma. Before recon-struction, we tried to dilate the stenotic segment for about 2 months, but the result was not satisfactory to relieve dyspnea. So, we resected the narrowed segment and tracheal reconstruction was performed with an excellent result in postoperative periods till now.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.277-279
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• 2018

A 68-year-old man presented with a posterior tracheal wall injury caused by percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. The wound was immediately covered with an absorbable polyglycolic acid sheet. Ten days after the injury, the perforation was closed with knotless sutures using a Castroviejo needle-holder through the tracheostomy. The successful repair in this case indicates the feasibility of the knotless suture technique for perforations. The technique is described in detail in this report. The patient was weaned from the mechanical ventilator on postoperative day 25. In cases of posterior tracheal posterior wall perforation, every effort should be made to repair the perforation through an existing opening.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.52-54
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• 2017

Vocal polyps are benign laryngeal lesions which arise from the Reinke's space abd hoarseness is the most common symptom. However, airway compromised is rarely presented in the vocal polyp. A rare case of large subglottic polyp causing dyspnea is reported. Tracheostomy was performed under local anesthesia and then the mass was resected under general anesthesia using a laryngofissure approach. The dyspnea and hoarseness disappeared after surgery immediately. The histopathological findings indicated a diagnosis of vocal cord polyp with chronic inflammatiuon. We consider that tracheostomy is the safest and most useful procedure to guarantee the upper airway in cases of large vocal polyp showing dyspnea. We hereby report a case of huge subglottic polyp in which a tracheostomy and laryngofissure was required for removing the subglottic mass successfully.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 1998

Background and Objectives : Decannulation failure may result from factors such as inadequate ability 0 clear secretion, mucosal induration, granulation tissue, restenosis, tracheal wall depression and vocal cord palsy. We were to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment on the basis of site and type of stenosis. Materials and Method : A series of 44 cases of decannulation difficulty between 1993 and 1997 were reviewed. The following data were collected on each of these patients : primary disease, indication for tracheostomy, site of stenosis, endoscopic findings of stenosis, surgical techniques used for treatment. Results : Primary diseases were 30 head trauma, 4 neck injury, 10 other diseases. Indication for tracheostomy were 37 prolonged intubation, 4 emergency tracheostomy, 3 laryngeal trauma. Endoscopic findings of stenosis were 24 granulation tissue, 16 laryngotracheal collapse, 4 combined with granulation tissue and collapse. Site of stenosis were 3 glottic, 9 subglottic, 24 stomal, 1 substomal, 7 mixed. 22 of 24 cases were decannulation using endoscopic treatment. Conclusion : The most common cause of failed decannulation was sternal granulation tissue. The most effective treatment of granulation tissue was endoscopic technique.