Segmental resection in the treatment of tracheal stenosis

Abstract

In a retropective analysis, the data of 80 patients, who underwent segmental tracheal resection because of tracheal stenoses, were evaluated. Results of these patients' postoperative course of at least 12 months were available. For 52 of 80 patients, a tracheoscopy was performed 1 year after the operation. Altogether tracheal segments of 2 to 5.5 cm were resected with consecutive end-to-end anastomosis. Seventy-three patients were without complications in the immediate postoperative course. Seven patients with problems after the surgery had to undergo a second intervention, which was successful in all cases. At least 1 year after the segmental resection in 74 of the 80 patients, no tracheal pathologies were detected. Three patients reported dyspnea during heavy physical exertion. In two of these in whom very long tracheal segments had been resected, recurrent stenoses were found with a restriction of 30% to 40%. A third patient suffered from a bilateral vocal cord paralysis with normal tracheal lumen. In another three patients, dyspnea at rest was observed in which a 20% to 30% tracheal restriction led to dyspnea only in combination with a simultaneously diagnosed glottic stenosis. Using the technique of segmental tracheal resection, tracheal stenoses up to a length of 6 cm can be cured safely and with lasting results.