Partial cricotracheal resection for severe upper tracheal stenosis: Potential impacts on the outcome

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of multiple preoperative and intraoperative variables on the outcome of partial cricotracheal resection and tracheal resection anastomosis (PCTR/TRA).

Methods: The study was conducted on 35 consecutive patients of grade III and IV upper tracheal stenosis with or without subglottic involvement. The indication of PCTR/TRA was post intubation stenosis in all patients. Overall complications (major and minor) occurred in 18 patients. Perioperative mortality occurred in 1 patient. Anastomotic complications do not always mean failure of surgery. They may indicate one or more interventions; such as removal of granulation tissue or dilatation of restenosis, with good results in most cases.

Results: At the end of treatment, 30 (85.7%) patients were decannulated successfully with effortless breathing and with good phonation and swallowing. Several perioperative factors were found to have a significant impact on the outcome of PCTR/TRA. Of these factors, comorbidities had the most significant negative impact, and indeed all the three patients who had comorbidities, were not successfully decannulated. Duration of intubation, length of resected segment and previous open airway interventions was reported to have a significant negative impact on the outcome of surgery.

Conclusion: PCTR/TRA for treatment of post traumatic subglottic or upper tracheal stenosis has a high success rate, especially in healthy patients without comorbidities, and without previous open airway interventions.