Airway and Hemodynamic Considerations for the Anesthetic Management of an Intraluminal Tracheal Plasmacytoma. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morabito, Joseph E.; Simmons, Colby G.; Zanotti, Giorgio; Mitchell, John D.; Bartels, Karsten; Wilkey, Barbara J.
• Is Part Of: Seminars in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia. Volume 27:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: thoracic surgery -- thoracic anesthesia -- tracheal mass -- airway obstruction -- tracheal neoplasm -- plasmacytoma -- central airway obstruction; Cardiovascular system -- Surgery -- Methods -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Methods -- Periodicals; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; Anesthetics -- Periodicals; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; Anesthetics -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures -- methods -- Periodicals; Thoracic Surgical Procedures -- methods -- Periodicals; 617.96
• DOI: 10.1177/10892532221140235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1089-2532

Abstract

Central airway obstruction due to tracheal tumors presents unique challenges to the anesthesiologist. We present the case of a 44-year-old male taken to the OR for biopsy and resection of an undiagnosed tracheal mass. Intraoperative management was complicated by bleeding and significant hemodynamic instability, necessitating rapid surgical and anesthetic intervention. This ultimately led to abortion of surgical resection. Pathologic examination revealed a primary tracheal plasmacytoma, a rare type of tracheal tumor. Here, we describe anesthetic and hemodynamic considerations for a tracheal plasmacytoma. We discuss the approach to airway management in variable intrathoracic tracheal obstruction and the unpredictability of tracheal tumors.