Kristin Miller

Severe Tracheal Compression Causing Respiratory Failure After Transhiatal Esophagectomy

Complications after transhiatal esophagectomy include pneumonia, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and anastomotic leak. Although damage to the trachea is a potential complication, there are minimal reports of tracheal compression after esophagectomy with gastric pull-through. We report a case of severe tracheal compression and obstruction requiring mechanical ventilation presenting 2 days postoperatively. Placement of a silicone tracheal stent relieved the obstruction in the distal trachea and facilitated extubation.

Effect of Hemoglobin Solutions as Hemodiluents on Capillary Oxygen Tension

Isovolemic hemodilution is the replacement of red blood cells (RBCs) with an equal volume of hemodiluent (e.g., colloids, crystalloids or oxygen-carrying blood substitutes). Hemodilution reduces the systemic hematocrit, decreases the viscosity of blood, increases cardiac output, increases blood flow to organs and increases oxygen extraction by the tissues, thereby providing beneficial consequences of hemodilution in clinical settings.

Tracheal ring herniation.

Inspection bronchoscopy during percutaneous dilational tracheostomy has become the standard of care to reduce complications of the procedure. During bronchoscopy, anatomic defects can be visualized before performing the procedure. We describe a case of discovering herniated tracheal rings in preprocedure bronchoscopy and subsequent treatment of this rare finding.