High frequency jet ventilation in trachea reconstructions--its advantages in our experience.

Maintaining sufficient airflow in the distal airways during tracheal resection remains to be a challenging task. Disadvantages of cross-field intubation are well known. Experiences with using two models (CHIRAJET NCA and PARAVENT PAT) of ventilators for High Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV) during 82 resection of trachea (94 applications) are reported. Postintubation or post-tracheostomy stenosis required surgery in 76% of the cases. 11% of the cases required surgery for tumour stenosis. In 4/82 cases trauma necessitated the trachea surgery. Six tracheo-esophageal fistulas were operated on using this technique. No perioperative technique related complications was encountered. No perioperative and early postoperative mortality was noted. The usage of HFJV is method of first choice in our experience, especially in lesions of upper part of the trachea. It proved to be safe, effective and easy to use ventilation technique.