A case of tracheal cancer surgery using percutaneous cardiopulmonary support

Primary tracheal cancer is very rare and a tumor obstructing the airway is an emergency difficult to manage. We report a case of primary tracheal cancer requiring surgery using percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). A 68-year-old man was referred of severe dyspnea and squamous cell carcinoma obstructing the subglottic laryx found in bronchoscopy. Computed tomography (CT) showed a tumor extending from the cricoid cartilage to the third tracheal ring. We diagnosed tracheal cancer because most of the lesion was in the tracheal wall. Because dyspnea was getting worse, we performed emergency surgery. PCPS was established before tracheostomy for airway management. We performed total widefield laryngectomy with the inferior margin located at the seventh tracheal ring. Using PCPS helps keep the operation uneventful and successful. Despite postoperative chemoradiotherapy, mediastinal lymph node and lung metastases 8 months post-operatively led to the man's death 15 months later. PCPS is very simple and easy to control, and has proven very effective in cases of severe airway stenosis.