Preventive ligation of the innominate artery in patients with neuromuscular disorders.
Tracheostomy, long-term mechanical ventilation, spinal deformaties are factors that contribute in patients with neuromuscular disorders to the development of an erosion of the tracheal wall and subsequent formation of a tracheo-innominate artery fistula. This condition is fatal unless promptly treated by exclusion of the innominate artery, which is often performed under desperate circumstances. We electively adopted a preventive ligation of the innominate artery in patients at risk for trachea-innominate artery fistula (TIF). We present seven patients with neuromuscular disorders who underwent preventive ligation of the innominate artery. All seven patients survived.
Iodice
Francesca
F
Division of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Ospedale Bambino Gesù-Palidoro, Rome, Italy. francesca_iodice@yahoo.it
Brancaccio
Gianluca
G
Lauri
Aldo
A
Di Donato
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000601:surgery*; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000601:surgery