Left mainstem bronchial laceration with perforation to right pleural cavity as complication after dynamic stent insertion

Introduction

The development of science at the end of the 20th century introduced new surgical miniinvasive techniques [1]. The insertion of an internal stent is a valuable method for the treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis. It is an alternative to other, older techniques. Serious complications after stenting have been described [2–4].
We report a patient with a left bronchial laceration after an attempt of dynamic stent insertion.

Case report

A 53-year-old man with tracheostomy after laryngeal resection due to carcinoma was treated in the pulmonology department due to tracheal benign stenosis for 3 years. Electrocoagulation of granulation tissue was performed many times. A plastic stent (Polyflex) was caught out. In June 2004 in the pulmonology department using rigid bronchoscopy insertion of a rigid dynamic stent was attempted (Photo 1). Cough and blood spitting occurred after insertion. Dyspnoea and subcutaneous emphysema appeared at the end of the endoscopic procedure. Tachypnoea and cyanosis and right thoracic pain suggested tension pneumothorax. A thoracic drain was inserted into the right pleural cavity. Air leak in the drainage was observed. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed right pneumothorax and the stent in the right pleural cavity (Photo 2). The patient was admitted to the department of thoracic surgery immediately. Laceration (3 cm in length) of the membranous left mainstem bronchus was found in flexible bronchoscopy. The patient underwent a right postero-lateral thoracotomy through the fifth intercostal space. The stent was found in the pleural cavity. The laceration was sewn up with single 3-0 PDS sutures. Two drains were inserted into the pleural cavity. The patient was extubated early after the operation. Air leak was not observed. After 7 days flexible bronchoscopy was performed. Tracheal granulation was removed by using argon plasma coagulation in several sessions. In 7-year follow-up the patient did not require any surgical intervention.

Discussion

Acute lesions of the tracheobronchial tree are very rare and tend to be caused by iatrogenic injures rather than external trauma. These injuries are frequently caused by intubation, tracheotomies and bronchoscopies [5]. The frequency of tracheobronchial rupture after double-lumen tube intubations is estimated at 0.025–0.37% [6].
For many years chronic lesions of the trachea with stenosis after long-term intubation were treated surgically or by endoscopic dilatations, laser or argon plasma coagulation. Fast development of technology introduced various types of stents (self-expending, dynamic) for the treatment of this chronic disease. This method is not free from complications. Malposition or migration of the stent is common. Wallace and associates demonstrated a high incidence of migration (87%) of wire stents [7, 8]. It is usually treated by insertion of a second or even third stent. Tracheobronchial wall perforation and erosion into the mediastinum, oesophagus or great vessels are reported as sequelae of the stent placement, and are often mortal [2–4]. In our department we use only self-expanding stents. The most common complications were migration and granulation in the end of the stent. We never had airway laceration. In our opinion indications for stenting of the airway first of all are malignant stenosis. In the benign type we prefer laser and argon coagulation.
Clinical symptoms (mediastinal and/or subcutaneous emphysema, haemorrhage) appear often early after injury. The symptom of pneumothorax varies widely (from 0 to 60%). Pneumothorax occurs only if the place of trauma communicates with the pleural space [5]. In our case all symptoms were present.
Fibreoptic bronchoscopy and conventional chest X-ray are preferable tools in diagnosis. Bronchoscopy can successfully qualify the location, extent, and depth of the laceration and allows one to plan the optimal treatment. The role of CT in diagnosis of tracheobronchial rupture is controversial. The CT is sometimes necessary in some cases of non-detectable mediastinal bleeding or if penetration of mediastinal structures is suspected [5]. In our case right pneumothorax was observed but left mainstem bronchial membranous laceration was diagnosed by bronchoscopy.
The indications for surgery are based on clinical investigation, radiological and bronchoscopic findings [9]. Small tears (about 1 cm length), in the absence of gross air leak and minimal mediastinal and/or subcutaneous emphysema, can be treated conservatively, with continuous airway humidification, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and chest physiotherapy [5, 6, 9, 10]. Lesions longer than 2 cm, with the presence of extensive subcutaneous and/or mediastinal emphysema and pneumothorax, are indications for early surgical repair [5, 9, 10]. In our case stent displacement to the pleural cavity, tension pneumothorax and 3 cm long tear were also indications for surgery.
The surgical approach is determined by the location of the tear. Cervicotomy is preferable for cervical and upper thoracic tracheal injuries. The right thoracotomy in the fourth intercostal space is suitable for the 1/3 lower thoracic part and bronchial injures [5, 9]. In our case, although left mainstem bronchial membranous laceration was observed, right thoracotomy was performed due to the presence of the stent in the right pleural cavity.
To avoid any complications caused by the tube or elevated pressure of the artificial ventilation, early extubation with the patient’s spontaneous respiration must be the aim in all patients [5].

Conclusions

In our opinion only early diagnosis allowed us to avoid mortal complications.

References

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Received: 4.01.2013, accepted: 24.09.2013.