Management of the Embedded Tracheoesophageal Prosthesis: Retrograde Removal and Replacement

Objective: To describe the retrograde removal of a tracheoesophageal (TE) prosthesis embedded in the common wall between the trachea and esophagus with preservation of the original tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) tract with subsequent placement of new tracheoesophageal prosthesis for voice restoration. Methods: The Blom-Singer TEP Set (InHealth Technologies, Carpinteria, CA) was used to facilitate this procedure. The coated wire leader cable was threaded through the small opening in the posterior tracheal wall and into the lumen of the old TE prosthesis. The wire was pulled through the mouth in retrograde fashion - bringing the old TE prosthesis out with it and dilating the existing TEP tract. A new prosthesis was then placed over the end of the wire and returned through the stoma, delivering the prosthesis through the TE tract and into the stoma. Results: Safe, voice restoration with avoidance of need for multiple procedures. Conclusion: Removal of an embedded prosthesis and simultaneous replacement of a new prosthesis was safely and efficiently achieved using a retrograde technique which maintained the patency of the prior TE tract and restored voice.

Use of Ultrasound for Sizing Tracheoesophageal Puncture Prostheses

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with voice prosthesis placement is the gold standard voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy. Ultrasound may be useful to determine tracheoesophageal wall thickness, guiding prosthesis choice. Therefore, 14 patients undergoing total laryngectomy and TEP or prosthesis change with 16-mHz ultrasound measurement of the posterior tracheal wall were included. Seven patients underwent secondary TEP, 3 primary TEP, and 4 TEP changes. Six patients underwent flap reconstruction, while 8 patients were closed primarily. Average party wall thickness was 9.6 ± 1.7 mm, without a difference ( P = .08) between primary closure (10.3 ± 1.7 mm) and flap reconstruction (8.6 ± 1.4 mm). Change from the hypothesized sizing was noted in 11 patients (79%). Prosthesis size did not correlate with age (–0.19, P = .51), height (–0.12, P = .69), weight (0.26, P = .38), body mass index (0.22, P = .46), or flap status (–0.48, P = .079). These data suggest that ultrasound is beneficial in patients with distorted or less predictable anatomy (eg, flap reconstruction) but also important for those patients undergoing primary closure.

A New Technique for Percutaneous Tracheotomy

The objective of this study was to investigate a new technique for tracheal puncture during percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT). A new invention, known as SafeTrach, was used: this instrument allows exact localization of the puncture site with built-in protection of the posterior tracheal wall. Surgery was performed on 17 patients with this technique, and our experience is described in this report. The results showed that this new technique minimizes known risk factors compared with existing PDT techniques, including patients with disadvantageous anatomy.

A Randomized Comparison of Bougie-Assisted and TracheoQuick Plus Cricothyrotomies on a Live Porcine Model

Objectives. Cricothyrotomy is a rescue procedure in “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate” scenarios where other methods of nonsurgical airway management have failed. We compared 2 cuffed cricothyrotomy sets, bougie-assisted cricothyrotomy (BACT) and novel percutaneous TracheoQuick Plus, on a live porcine model in a simulated periarrest situation. Methods. Thirty-four anesthetized minipigs were randomly allocated into two groups: BACT technique (n=17) and TracheoQuick Plus (n=17). The primary outcome was duration of cricothyrotomy while secondary outcomes were total success rate, number of attempts, location of incision, changes in heart rate, oxygen saturation, and the incidence of complications. Results. BACT was significantly faster than TracheoQuick Plus cricothyrotomy, with a median time of 69 sec (IQR 56–85) versus 178 sec (IQR 152–272). The total success rate was without difference. 94% of BACT was performed successfully on the first attempt, while in the TracheoQuick Plus group, it was only 18% (P<0.001). Trauma to the posterior tracheal wall was observed once in the BACT group and 5 times in the TracheoQuick Plus group. Oxygen saturation was significantly higher in the BACT group both during and after the procedure. Conclusions. BACT is superior to TracheoQuick Plus cricothyrotomy on a live animal model.