[Anesthesia in resections and anastomoses of the trachea]

Resections and end-to-end anastomosis have been effective in correcting localized tracheal strictures. Important clinical considerations are the precise preoperative assessment of the lesion, careful planning of anesthetic management and choice of the appropriate decision. Surgical procedures involving sharing of the air way between the anaesthetist and the surgeon impose special problems on the anaesthetist. On the one hand, the surgeon requires unrestricted access to the operating site and on the other, the anaesthetist must ensure adequate anaesthesia, oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination, preferably without contamination of the lung fields. The more commonly employed technique is the use of a tracheal tube so that anaesthesia can be maintained using conventional IPPV. In our experience, the majority of strictures in adults can be managed as well, or better, by using a conventional endotracheal tube.