Tracheal Chondrosarcoma Excised With Extracorporeal Circulation

Tracheal chondrosarcoma (TCS) is a rare malignancy, with only 19 cases described in the literature to date.

Herein, we presented the third-largest TCS with such an airway compromise that neither orotracheal intubation nor jet ventilation or even tracheostomy was possible. So, extracorporeal circulation was needed to excise the tumor in a one- stage procedure. The patient presented no tumor recurrences after surgery during an approximate7-years follow-up. So open surgical resection and end-to-end anastomosis probes may be applied as a safe and successful treatment. A review of the previous literature revealed no extracorporeal circulation in previous practices.

Management of tracheal chondrosarcoma is challenging due to its airway compromise during the procedure. Different treatment modalities have been advised but none of them included extracorporeal circulation as an option. We believe that this approach allows for better control of the resection and ensures better oxygenation of the patient.