title: Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy prevent airway anastomosis from breakdown?
abstract: Ischemia with subsequent necrosis of anastomoses, after central airway resection and reconstruction, remains a feared complication for thoracic surgeons and their patients. To date, there is no evidence to support the use of hyperbaric oxygen in the prevention of necrosis of airway reconstructions in humans. We present a patient who underwent central airway surgery with postoperative ischemia of an end-to-side anastomosis. Repeat visit to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber seemed to prevent the anastomosis from subsequent necrosis and dehiscence with complete healing as a result. In conclusion, hyperbaric oxygen treatment can be considered when ischemia or necrosis is observed in central airway anastomoses during postoperative bronchoscopic surveillance.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam; Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam. Electronic address: chrisdickhoff@vumc.nl.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Dickhoff
authors: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam.
authors: Johannes M A
authors: JM
authors: Daniels
authors: Department of Hyperbaric Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam.
authors: Ad
authors: A
authors: van den Brink
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam.
authors: Marinus A
authors: MA
authors: Paul
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors: Ad F T M
authors: AF
authors: Verhagen
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001980:Bronchi / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007511:Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014132:Trachea / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*