Oxygen-jet ventilation during tracheal reconstruction in patients with tracheal stenosis.

Intermittent jets of O2 at 60 psi via a small bore (5 mm), cuffed tracheal tube have been used relaxants to ventilate adult patients with tracheal stenosis undergoing surgical resection and reconstruction. Before resection, the tube was maintained proximal to the stenosis. During resection and reconstruction, the tube bypassed the resected gap into the distal tracheal segment. The technic allows the surgeon to mobilize, resect, and reconstruct the trachea around the small tube in an unhurried manner, and provides adequate ventilation and oxygenation throughout the procedure.