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      Subglottic stenosis and acute airway obstruction

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      Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology
      Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd

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          Abstract

          Sir, A 22-year-old female patient presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with acute breathlessness, stridor, agitation and altered sensorium. On applying pulse oximeter, her oxygen saturation (SpO2) was 74% on room air, which only marginally improved with supplemental O2. On auscultation, there were bilateral rhonchi. Patient's medical records revealed subglottic laryngeal stenosis. A definitive tracheostomy was planned after securing airway with an emergency endotracheal intubation. A difficult airway cart was readied and an ear, nose & throat (ENT) surgeon was called to be standby for an emergency tracheostomy during endotracheal intubation in ED. Direct laryngoscopy revealed a modified Cormack and Lehane grade 3. A 4mm un-cuffed endotracheal (ETT) portex tube was successfully negotiated through the vocal cords, beyond the obstruction after repeated unsuccessful attempts to intubate with 5 and 4.5 millimeter (mm) ETT. At that moment, the loose ETT connector suddenly got disconnected from the tube. At the same moment, patient took a deep inspiratory breath, dragging the ETT along. On direct laryngoscopy, a miniscule rim of the proximal part of the disconnected ETT was visible just below the glottic opening. After oropharyngeal suctioning, adjusting head and neck position and proper external laryngeal manipulation, the tube was successfully retrieved using a pediatric magill's forceps. Another 4 mm un-cuffed ETT was passed through the vocal cords, tube tightly secured and patient was ventilated with 100% oxygen. Her SpO2 picked up and became 100%. Subsequently definitive surgical tracheostomy was performed under local anesthesia and mild sedation with 8 mm cuffed tracheostomy tube to bypass the obstruction. Bilateral air entry was checked to be equal and adequate following administration of steroids and bronchodilators. Her sensorium was restored to normal with adequate spontaneous respirations. Her vital parameters were normal throughout (except for initial sinus tachycardia) and subsequently, her SpO2 became 100% on room air as well. She was later shifted to ward on T-piece after nebulization, tracheostomy suction and medical management. On detailed evaluation of her past history, she had pregnancy-induced hypertension and generalized edema during the last trimester of her pregnancy (3 months back). She developed postpartum jaundice and sepsis due to retained products of conception after normal vaginal delivery. She underwent management in the intensive care unit of a peripheral hospital for her condition for 15 days, with intubation and ventilatory support, the records of which were not available. Two months later, she developed progressive hoarseness of voice and paroxysmal stridor, for which she consulted a local ENT surgeon. Video laryngoscopy findings performed then revealed: “Less movement of left Vocal cord on phonation. Normal morphology of larynx with narrowing of trachea just below the vocal cords, and was negotiable with a 5 mm bronchoscope only. Mucosa was inflamed and edematous. No growth was present. Rest of trachea, carina, bronchi and bronchioles were normal” [Figures 1 and 2]. Figure 1 Video laryngoscopy view taken by ear, nose and throat surgeon on first presentation of hoarseness postpartum Figure 2 Video laryngoscopy view as in Figure 1 The patient was further investigated after been sent to the ward, with cervical X-rays (antero-posterior and lateral), indirect laryngoscopy (IDL) and computed tomography (CT) scan. On IDL, the glottic chink was inadequate and left vocal cord was immobile. On fiber-optic laryngoscopy, bilateral arytenoids were boggy and edematous. On X-ray neck, pre-vertebral soft-tissue shadow appeared increased in thickness, mildly compressing the trachea. On contrast-enhanced CT of the neck, thickening of soft-tissue was noted in glottic and subglottic region, leading to narrowing of lumen. No obvious abnormal post-contrast enhancement was seen [Figures 3 and 4]. Figure 3 Computed tomography scan of the neck taken during current evaluation of patient following tracheostomy Figure 4 Computed tomography scan of the neck as in Figure 3 Her post-tracheostomy course was uneventful in the ward, where her tracheostomy tube size was sequentially reduced and was finally decannulated. She was later discharged home after speech therapy and advised to follow-up regularly in ENT out-patient department. Patients with acquired stenosis are diagnosed from a few days to 10 years or more following the initial injury. The majority of cases are diagnosed within a year. Symptoms[1] include dyspnea (may be on exertion or with rest, depending on the severity of stenosis),stridor, hoarseness, brassy cough, recurrent pneumonitis, cyanosis. Management in all these situations needs to be prompt and definitive.[2] Since patient presented with acute airway obstruction possibly precipitated by a recent respiratory tract infection and consequent further narrowing, only a 4 mm ETT could be passed into the trachea,which relieved the obstruction momentarily. In our case, the problem was in the loose connection between the ETT and the standard connector. With patient taking a deep breath at the same time, there was a strong intra-thoracic pressure pulling the un-cuffed ETT into the trachea. Postpartum patients who were on prolonged endotracheal intubation are more likely to develop subglottic stenosis.[3] A high index of suspicion is warranted with the onset of respiratory symptoms following a history of intubation, regardless of the duration of intubation. This case highlights the fact that subglottic stenosis can present as acute airway obstruction.

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          Subglottic stenosis in pregnancy.

          Subglottic stenosis (SGS) in pregnancy is rare but may cause a potentially life-threatening delivery and is a challenge to the anaesthetist and the obstetrician. Clinical signs of SGS may not be obvious and the diagnosis can be difficult. Patients usually present with shortness of breath rather than stridor. Many patients have been wrongly diagnosed with asthma and recurrent bronchitis before subsequent discovery of a SGS. Early diagnosis of SGS and multidisciplinary input is important in managing these patients. We present a case of a pregnant woman with a history of Wegener's granulomatosis and the successful multidisciplinary management of her SGS.
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            Author and article information

            Journal
            J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol
            J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol
            JOACP
            Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology
            Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd (India )
            0970-9185
            2231-2730
            Jan-Mar 2014
            : 30
            : 1
            : 122-124
            Affiliations
            [1]Ex-Senior Resident, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive care Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital & Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
            Author notes
            Address for correspondence: Dr. Uma Hariharan, B H 41, East Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi - 110 088, India. E-mail: uma1708@ 123456gmail.com
            Article
            JOACP-30-122
            10.4103/0970-9185.125736
            3927282
            24574619
            9b0a045b-e3d0-4a5e-9b87-6cead863ed90
            Copyright: © Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology

            This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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            Anesthesiology & Pain management

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