The type of the hydrocephalus was established by ultrasound methods: tetraventricular hydrocephalus of unknown origin was considered to be communicating hydrocephalus; Dandy-Walker syndrome and Sylvian aqueduct obstruction were considered to be obstructive hydrocephalus (Tables 1, 2).
Upper airway obstruction was considered when the patient presented stridor secondary to laryngeal edema after the extubation.
Based on these findings the presence of a functional left outflow tract obstruction was considered.
Canaliculitis that arose from punctual plug placement or nasolacrimal duct obstruction was considered as a secondary canaliculitis and thus was not included in this study.
Obstruction was considered to be reversible on salbutamol (which indicates a diagnosis of asthma) if the bronchodilation response Δ FEV1 was ≥12% of the baseline and ≥200 ml [ 4] and norm values were reached.
Additional complexity arises when the consequences of mucus obstruction are considered in the context of normal lung development and aging, i.e., mucus obstruction early in life (CF, PCD) may generate long-term effects that would not occur if the obstruction occurs later (CB, COPD).
Distal obstruction was considered potentially to have played a role in leakage in 16 of 45 patients; eight had obstruction at the level of the EE anastomosis, five had trocar-port (Richter's) hernias and in three the obstruction was due to intestinal adhesions after earlier surgery.
It is important, therefore, that obstructions be considered in ventilation design.
