Open AccessApplication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to treatment of serious tracheal stenosis caused by relapsing polychondritis: a case report and literature review
Author(s) -
Jingchen Zhang,
Xujian He,
Jia Hu,
Tong Li
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of international medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1473-2300
pISSN - 0300-0605
DOI - 10.1177/03000605211009489
Subject(s) - medicine , extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , relapsing polychondritis , tracheal stenosis , airway , respiratory tract , surgery , respiratory failure , intubation , endotracheal intubation , subglottic stenosis , stenosis , anesthesia , respiratory system , cardiology
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a multisystemic rheumatic disease characterized by widespread and potentially destructive inflammatory lesions of the cartilage. The rarity of this disease and the lack of pathological diagnostic laboratory tests can occasionally lead to delayed diagnosis. We herein describe a 51-year-old woman with RP. She was sent to our hospital 4 days after the development of an upper respiratory tract infection with difficulty breathing. Her clinical condition significantly improved after the performance of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in an awake state, implantation of a tracheal stent, and administration of steroid therapy. Airway involvement of RP may be life-threatening. In this case, endotracheal intubation would have undoubtedly been very dangerous. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be performed in an awake state to maintain oxygenation and improve the chance of survival.