title: Severe tracheal compression causing respiratory failure after transhiatal esophagectomy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0050, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Ray W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shepherd
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D004944:Esophagoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015607:Stents; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*