TRACHEAL RESECTION-ANASTOMOSIS FOR IATROGENIC STENOSIS - EXPERIENCE IN 340 CASES

Since 1975, 340 patients were treated by tracheal sleeve resection for tracheal or subglottic laryngeal iatrogenic stenoses in our unit. Pre operative iterative Nd YAG laser sessions have usually been performed, without success. The length of the sleeve specimen was an average of 3 1/4 cm. Twelve patients died on the post operative course (3.5%), 3 more patients died later after failure of the procedure (0.9%) and nin eteen had recurrent stenoses treated with use of a tracheostomy tube, a permanent Montgomery tube, or an endotracheal stent (56%). Three hun dred and six patients are definitely cured (90%), at the first attempt for 265 patients, after a laser session for granulomas for 20 patient s, after a second tracheal resection for 6 patients and after a tempor ary Montgomery tube for 15 patients. Providing there is a good selecti on of the patients, tracheal sleeve resection is the best treatment fo r iatrogenic stenosis.