Tracheal leiomyomas are extremely rare benign tumors that are most commonly treated by bronchoscopic or surgical resection. Procedure-related complication rates are low, with surgical tracheal resection carrying the highest risk. Nonetheless, related airway obstruction is a potentially devastating complication. As proficiency develops, more centers are utilizing extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) not just for critically ill patients but also for high-risk airway therapeutic procedures. However, ECMO carries its own potential complications, and the decision to cannulate requires multidisciplinary discussions. We present a case of a high-risk tracheal leiomyoma that was successfully resected bronchoscopically with ECMO on standby.
Liou et al. (2026) studied this question.