1/1290. mucoepidermoid tumor of trachea.Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the trachea is rare. Its occurence in a 14-year-old boy is reported here. This case illustrates the typical course of tracheal tumors with clinical manifestations of cough, wheezing, and hemoptysis, the intially reported normal chest roentgenogram, and the common failure to diagnose tracheal tumor for several months. Early use of tomographic studies and bronchoscopic examination in any person with recent onset of airway obstruction unresponsive to bronchodilator therapy is recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/1290. The rebound effect in the treatment of complex hemangioma with interferon alpha 2A.The authors report the case of an infant with an extensive face hemangioma with subglottic airway obstruction which had been successfully treated with interferon alpha 2A but then reoccurred with the same dimensions and airway blockage after treatment was abruptly interrupted. The authors suggest the implementation of a standard procedure for the interruption of interferon alpha 2A treatment in order to avoid this rebound effect and advise on the need for further studies to properly evaluate dosage and administration parameters for interferon alpha 2A in the treatment of difficult hemangioma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/1290. Upper airway obstruction--a report on sixteen patients.In sixteen patients with upper airway obstruction, breathlessness was a symptom in all with maximum mid vital capacity flow rates in inspiration or expiration of 1-7 litres per second or less. With one exception, all these patients had stridor. The stridor was inspiratory in nine, expiratory in one and both inspiratory and expiratory in two. There was no diagnostic difficulty in the twelve patients with extrathoracic airway obstruction and in this group tests of inspiratory flow (forced inspired volume in one second, peak inspiratory flow or maximum mid inspiratory flow) were of most value in following the progression of the disease and the response to treatment. Flow volume loops were particularly useful where extrathoracic obstruction and diffuse intrapulmonary airway obstruction co-existed. The two patients with intrathoracic upper airway obstruction caused considerable difficulty with diagnosis and both were initially thought to have, and treated unsuccessfully for, asthma. In each patient flow volume loops showed a low flow expiratory plateau, diagnostic of severe intrathoracic airway obstruction but recorded in the absence of any clinical or radiographic features of emphysema. An obstructing lesion of the intrathoracic trachea was therefore suspected and this was confirmed by tracheal tomography. In one patient serial expiratory flow volume curves demonstrated the combination of intrathoracic upper and lower airway obstruction. Two patients had tracheal stenosis in the region of the suprasternal notch. Each showed a characteristic twin humped expiratory flow volume curve and in one patient the stenosis was demonstrated both physiologically and radiologically to move in and out of the thorax. The importance of a standard posture during serial measurements is emphasized. The ratio of forced expired volume in one second measured in millilitres, to the peak expiratory flow measured in litres per minute, was of limited value if differentiating upper from lower airway obstruction in these patients. It is concluded that upper airway obstruction is likely to become more common and that respiratory function tests, in particular the flow volume loop, play an essential part in the recognition and management of this problem.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 13keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/1290. Complete upper airway obstruction during awake fibreoptic intubation in patients with unstable cervical spine fractures.PURPOSE: To describe the presentation and management of complete upper airway obstruction with life threatening arterial oxygen desaturation that occurred during attempted awake fibreoptic intubation in two patients presenting with unstable C-spine injury. CLINICAL FEATURE: Complete upper airway obstruction occurred during awake fibreoptic intubation of two men (ASA II; 68 & 55 yr old) presenting with unstable C-spine fractures. In both cases, bag and mask ventilation with CPAP failed to relieve the progressive hypoxemia. A surgical airway was established urgently to oxygenate the two patients who were suffering progressive life-threatening oxygen desaturation. One patient had trans-cricothyroid jet ventilation performed through a 16G intravenous cannula prior to an urgent tracheostomy. In the other patient, an emergency tracheostomy was inserted. Interestingly, both patients had been sedated in the Neurosurgical intensive care Unit with morphine and benzodiazepines before their scheduled surgeries. The most likely etiology for the complete upper airway obstruction was laryngospasm due to inadequate topicalization of the airway and additional sedation given in the operating room. Neither patients suffered any new neurological deficits following these events. They went on to have uneventful surgeries. CONCLUSION: This case report suggest that prior to awake fibreoptic intubation, oxygenation, adequate topicalization with testing to verify the lack of pharyngeal and laryngeal responses and careful assessment of sedation levels in the operating room are prudent for a safe endoscopic intubation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/1290. Fatal invasive aspergillosis in an adolescent with cystic fibrosis.We report on a 13-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis (CF) who developed refractory airflow obstruction despite high-dose steroids. She developed invasive aspergillosis and died despite oral and intravenous antifungal therapy. We speculate that the increasing use of immunosuppressive strategies and aggressive antipseudomonal therapy in CF may lead to an increase in aspergillus lung disease, including invasive aspergillosis in the future.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/1290. Postoperative pulmonary edema.BACKGROUND: Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema may be caused by upper airway obstruction due to laryngospasm after general anesthesia. This syndrome of "negative pressure pulmonary edema" is apparently well known among anesthesiologists but not by other medical specialists. methods: We reviewed the cases of seven patients who had acute pulmonary edema postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no evidence of fluid overload or occult cardiac disease, but upper airway obstruction was the most common etiology. Each patient responded quickly to therapy without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Of the seven patients with noncardiogenic postoperative pulmonary edema, at least three cases were associated with documented laryngospasm causing upper airway obstruction. This phenomenon has been reported infrequently in the medical literature and may be underdiagnosed. Immediate recognition and treatment of this syndrome are important. The prognosis for complete recovery is excellent.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/1290. Upper airway obstruction.A large number of diseases may present with respiratory distress. In adults, upper airway obstruction (UAO) is relatively rare. Consequently, UAO may initially be overlooked in the differential diagnosis of the dyspneic patient. Because it may progress rapidly, delays or errors in diagnosis can be critical. During an eight-month period in one emergency department, seven adult patients with potentially life-threatening diseases of the upper airway were seen. To reacquaint physicians with the syndrome of mechanical obstruction of large airways, several illustrative cases are presented and the syndrome is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/1290. Early postoperative esophageal obstruction caused by enteral feeding concretions in patients who have undergone laryngectomy.We report two cases of tube-feeding concretions causing esophageal obstruction in patients after laryngectomy. The cause of tube-feeding concretions is unknown at this time but probably involves esophageal stasis caused by esophageal dysmotility, protein precipitation by acidic gastric contents, tube damage, and concomitant use of sucralfate and other antacids. Although this is a rare complication of nasogastric feedings, the diagnosis should be entertained in cases in which postoperative esophageal obstruction is noted in head and neck surgical patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/1290. Spontaneous cervical hematoma: a report of two cases.Cervical hematomas are generally associated with trauma, surgery, and tumors. Although they are rare, they can be life-threatening because they put the patient at risk for great-vessel compression and upper airway obstruction. We describe two cases of spontaneous cervical hematoma--one in an 81-year-old man and the other in a 30-year-old woman. The man reported dysphonia, dysphagia, and neck swelling of 5 hours' duration. He had been taking 100 mg/day of aspirin for a cardiovascular condition. Examination revealed that the man had polycythemia vera. The woman was found to have neck ache, odynophagia, and cervical ecchymosis; portal hypertension, schistosomiasis, and blood dyscrasia were also found. Both patients denied trauma. A suspected diagnosis of cervical hematoma was confirmed by computed tomography, and treatment was instituted. The hematomas resolved in about 2 weeks. The treatment of cervical hematoma is controversial, although it is agreed that the evaluation of upper airway obstruction and its permeability is mandatory. Surgical treatment is generally reserved for complicated cases because of the risk of infection or bleeding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/1290. Failure of the laryngeal mask to secure the airway in a patient with Hunter's syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II).We present a case-study of a boy with Hunter's syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II) and stridor in which a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) failed to secure airway control. A rigid bronchoscopy was performed and a polypoid formation discovered. We believe that the use of the LMA could explain the laryngeal obstruction in this child.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = obstruction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |