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Pediatric Pulmonology May 2021Airway anomalies are accountable for a substantial part of morbidity and mortality in children with Down syndrome (DS). Although tracheal anomalies occur more often in... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Airway anomalies are accountable for a substantial part of morbidity and mortality in children with Down syndrome (DS). Although tracheal anomalies occur more often in DS children, a structured overview on the topic is lacking. We systematically reviewed the characteristics of tracheal anomalies in DS children.
METHODS
A MEDLINE and EMBASE search for DS and tracheal anomalies was performed. Tracheal anomalies included tracheal stenosis, complete tracheal ring deformity (CTRD), tracheal bronchus, tracheomalacia, tracheal web, tracheal agenesis or atresia, laryngotracheoesophageal cleft type 3 or 4, trachea sleeve, and absent tracheal rings.
RESULTS
Fifty-nine articles were included. The trachea of DS children is significantly smaller than non-DS children. Tracheomalacia and tracheal bronchus are seen significantly more often in DS children. Furthermore, tracheal stenosis, CTRD, and tracheal compression by vascular structures are seen regularly in children with DS. These findings are reflected by the significantly higher frequency of tracheostomy and tracheoplasty performed in DS children.
CONCLUSION
In children with DS, tracheal anomalies occur more frequently and tracheal surgery is performed more frequently than in non-DS children. When complaints indicative of tracheal airway obstruction like biphasic stridor, dyspnea, or wheezing are present in children with DS, diagnostic rigid laryngotracheobronchoscopy with special attention to the trachea is indicated. Furthermore, imaging studies (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound) play an important role in the workup of DS children with airway symptoms. Management depends on the type, number, and extent of tracheal anomalies. Surgical treatment seems to be the mainstay in severe cases.
Topics: Child; Down Syndrome; Humans; Infant; Larynx; Trachea; Tracheal Diseases; Tracheal Stenosis
PubMed: 33434377
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25203 -
Pediatric Surgery International May 2021H type tracheoesophageal fistula (H-TEF) is a rare congenital anomaly. Management may be complicated by late diagnosis and variation(s) in the therapeutic strategy. A...
BACKGROUND
H type tracheoesophageal fistula (H-TEF) is a rare congenital anomaly. Management may be complicated by late diagnosis and variation(s) in the therapeutic strategy. A systematic review of published studies explores the utility of diagnostic studies, operations and postoperative complications.
METHODS
Medline and PubMed database(s) were searched for ALL studies reporting H-TEF during 1997-2020. Using PRISMA methodology, manuscripts were screened for eligibility and reporting.
RESULTS
Forty-seven eligible studies were analysed. Primary diagnosis varied widely with surgeons performing oesophagography and trachea-bronchoscopy. Preoperative localisation techniques included fluoroscopy, guidewire placement and catheterisation. A cervical approach (209 of 272 cases), as well as thoracotomy, thoracoscopy and endoscopic fistula ligation, were all described. Morbidity included fistula recurrence (1.7%), leak (2%), tracheomalacia (3.4%) and respiratory sequelae (1%). The major adverse complication in all studies was vocal cord palsy secondary to laryngeal nerve injury (18.5%) yet strikingly few centres routinely reported undertaking vocal cord screening pre or postoperatively.
CONCLUSION
This study shows that paediatric surgeons record low volume activity with H type tracheoesophageal fistula. Variation(s) in clinical practice are widely evident. Laryngeal nerve injury and its subsequent management warrant special consideration. Care pathways may offset attendant morbidity and define 'best practice.'
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Postoperative Complications; Postoperative Period; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; Retrospective Studies; Thoracoscopy; Thoracotomy; Trachea; Tracheoesophageal Fistula; Tracheomalacia
PubMed: 33474597
DOI: 10.1007/s00383-020-04853-3 -
International Journal of Surgery... Feb 2008There is no standard definition for thyroid glands extending below the thoracic inlet, and there are no clear guidelines for pre-operatively identifying those patients... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
There is no standard definition for thyroid glands extending below the thoracic inlet, and there are no clear guidelines for pre-operatively identifying those patients that may require an intrathoracic approach. We therefore reviewed the current literature in order to establish the current practices regarding the management of retrosternal goitres (RSGs), and propose a classification system to aid pre-operative planning for this important group of patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A PubMed Medline search was conducted using the search terms 'retrosternal', 'substernal', 'intrathoracic', 'mediastinal', 'goitre' and 'goiter', resulting in 626 hits. Exclusion criteria reduced the number of papers to the 34 used for this review.
RESULTS
A total of 34 papers totaling 2426 patients were included. Eighty-four percent of patients operated on for RSG were achieved via a cervical approach, with the remainder also requiring manubriotomy (3.1%), full sternotomy (6.6%) or thoracotomy (4%). Tracheomalacia occurred in 1% of patients and Superior Vena Cava syndrome (SVC) in 3.2%. There was a clear and highly significant association between the extent and definition of RSG and reported complications, as well as the approach used, with the incidence of tracheomalacia, SVC and need for intrathoracic approach increasing more than 10-fold in cases of RSG reaching the aortic arch.
DISCUSSION
There is a clear need to establish a common standard in the definition and description of the extent of RSG. Using our findings, we propose a new, simple, 3-grade classification system of RSGs, based on their relation with the aortic arch and the right atrium.
Topics: Goiter; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome; Tracheostomy
PubMed: 17416216
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2007.02.003 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2018The use of long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to treat sleep and breathing disorders in children has increased substantially in the last decade; however, less data...
BACKGROUND
The use of long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to treat sleep and breathing disorders in children has increased substantially in the last decade; however, less data exist about its use in infants. Given that infants have distinct sleep and breathing patterns when compared to older children, the outcomes of infants on long-term NIV may differ as well. The aim of this study is to systematically review the use and outcomes of long-term NIV in infants.
METHODS
Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, CINAHL (via EbscoHOST), PubMed, and Wiley Cochrane Library were systematically searched from January 1990 to July 2017. Studies on infants using long-term NIV outside of an acute care setting were included. Data were extracted on study design, population characteristics, and NIV outcomes.
RESULTS
A total of 327 studies were full-text reviewed, with final inclusion of 60. Studies were distributed across airway (40%), neuromuscular (28%), central nervous system (10%), cardio-respiratory (2%), and multiple (20%) disease categories. Of the 18 airway studies reporting on NIV outcomes, 13 (72%) reported improvements in respiratory parameters. Of the 12 neuromuscular studies exclusively on spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1), six (50%) reported decreased hospitalizations and nine (75%) reported on mortality outcomes. Risk of bias was moderate to serious, and quality of the evidence was low to very low for all studies. Most studies had an observational design with no control group, limiting the potential for a meta-analysis.
CONCLUSION
The outcomes reported in studies differed by the disease category being studied. Studies on airway conditions showed improvements in respiratory parameters for infants using NIV. Studies on neuromuscular disorder, which were almost exclusively on SMA1, reported decreased hospitalizations and prolonged survival. Overall, it appears that NIV is an effective long-term therapy for infants. However, the high risk of bias and low quality of the available evidence limited strong conclusions.
PubMed: 29484287
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00013 -
International Wound Journal Apr 2016Tracheobronchial rupture is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of endotracheal intubation. The most likely cause of tracheal injury is massive... (Review)
Review
Tracheobronchial rupture is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of endotracheal intubation. The most likely cause of tracheal injury is massive overinflation of the endotracheal tube cuff and pre-existing tracheal wall weakness. We review the relevant literature and predisposing factors contributing to this complication. Only articles that reported at least the demographic data (age and sex), the treatment performed and the outcome were included. Papers that did not detail these variables were excluded. We also focus on a case of tracheal laceration after tracheal intubation in a patient with severe thyroid carcinoma. This patient received surgical repair and recovered uneventfully. Two hundred and eight studies that reported cases or case series were selected for analysis. Most of the reported cases (57·2%) showed an uneventful recovery after surgical therapy. The overall mortality was 19·2% (40 patients). Our patient too recovered without any serious complication. Careful prevention, early detection and proper treatment of the problem are necessary when tracheal rupture occurs. The morbidity and mortality associated with tracheal injury mandate a high level of suspicion and expedient management.
Topics: Adolescent; Aged; Child; Female; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Rupture; Thyroidectomy; Trachea
PubMed: 24871935
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12291 -
BMC Pediatrics Dec 2018The transanastomotic feeding tube (TAFT) is widely used around the world in patients with esophageal atresia (EA). However, the safety of the use of TAFT is still... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The transanastomotic feeding tube (TAFT) is widely used around the world in patients with esophageal atresia (EA). However, the safety of the use of TAFT is still unknown and remains to be clarified.
METHODS
The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane. Studies comparing outcomes in patients with the use of TAFT (TAFT+) and patients without the use of TAFT (TAFT-) were scrutinized. The quality of included studies was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale score. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I value. A fixed or random-effect model was applied.
RESULTS
Four retrospective controlled studies involving 455 patients were included. The pooled estimates showed that the use of TAFT significantly increased the risk of stricture, with a risk ratio (RR) of 1.83 (95% CI 1.30-2.58; P = 0.0005). The meta-analyses of other postoperative complications did not show significant differences between TAFT+ and TAFT- group, with a RR of 1.65 (95% CI 0.93-2.93; P = 0.09) for anastomotic leakage, 0.91 (95% CI 0.34-2.44; P = 0.85) for sepsis, 1.89 (95% CI 0.22-16.20; P = 0.56) for tracheomalacia, 0.50 (95% CI 0.13-1.93; P = 0.31) for gastroesophageal reflux, 1.29 (95% CI 0.28-5.92; P = 0.74) for wound infection, and 0.97 (95% CI 0.03-36.75; p = 0.99) for pneumonia.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the use of TAFT in patients with EA significantly increases the risk of stricture. However, TAFT is not associated with other complications, including anastomotic leakage, sepsis, tracheomalacia, gastroesophageal reflux, wound infection and pneumonia.
Topics: Anastomosis, Surgical; Anastomotic Leak; Enteral Nutrition; Esophageal Atresia; Esophageal Stenosis; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Intubation, Gastrointestinal; Pneumonia; Postoperative Complications; Sepsis; Surgical Wound Infection
PubMed: 30541487
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-018-1359-5