[High-frequency jet ventilation for placing tracheal stents--a case report].

Abstract

Stenoses of the larynx and trachea may cause acute life-threatening situations. Surgical procedures in patients presenting this type of problem are a real challenge for the surgeon and the anaesthesiologist. Depending on the extent and the nature of the stenosis, the insertion of a stent may be the best therapeutic option. In this case, the high frequency jet ventilation offers certain advantages for the surgeon. Thanks to modern jet ventilators with automatic pressure monitoring and jet ventilation tubes with a separate lumen for pressure monitoring, the danger of barotrauma is considerably reduced, even in patients with a high-degree stenosis of the larynx and trachea. During insertion of a tracheal stent during jet ventilation, the complete cross-section of the trachea must at least be temporarily available to the surgeon. In addition, at the end of the operation the newly implanted stent should not be altered by manipulations necessary for artificial respiration. We describe a new method which uses tracheal jet ventilation for implanting a stent with only short interruptions of artificial ventilation. During recovery from anaesthesia, there is no risk of dislocating the newly placed stent.