Common causes of airway obstruction in patients with laryngeal cancer

Laryngeal cancer patients often experience breathing difficulties due to airway obstruction before or after surgery, which seriously threatens the patient's life safety. Common causes are as follows.

Tracheotomy was performed before surgery

Replacing the cannula after anesthesia induction during surgery can cause dyspnea. This is more common in obese and thick-necked laryngeal cancer patients. If the anesthesia catheter is mistakenly inserted into the pretracheal space, the patient may experience dyspnea. This can be overcome by quickly pulling out the catheter, re-exploring the tracheostomy opening, and then reinserting the catheter.

Postoperative tube removal

Tracheal tube dislocation often occurs on the day or within a few days after surgery, mainly because patients are prone to choking or even suffocation after partial laryngectomy or laryngectomy and reconstruction.

Tracheal tube obstruction by sputum crust

This situation is mostly caused by improper care. Dry sputum crust can cause severe breathing difficulties for patients and even endanger their lives. Therefore, doctors and family members should pay more attention to whether there is sputum crust around the cannula and help patients clear sputum in time to avoid adverse consequences. Those who cannot clear the sputum while wearing the tube should replace the tracheal cannula in time with the help of a nurse.

Patients replace tracheal tubes by themselves

If there is no one to take care of the patient who has been discharged after surgery, and he/she replaces and cleans the cannula at home by himself/herself, the removal of the cannula will cause the stoma to narrow and the airway to be blocked. The patient will have severe dyspnea and may be in danger of death if not treated in time. Generally, when the patient comes to the hospital for treatment, the tracheal cannula cannot be inserted again and a stoma incision and expansion surgery is required.