Transcervical-transtracheal endoluminal repair of membranous tracheal disruptions

Tracheal lacerations are rare and potentially hazardous complications of tr acheal intubation. Surgical repair is the treatment of choice of tracheal i njuries although nonoperative management is occasionally appropriate for we ll-selected patients. We describe our personal technique of anterior transc ervical-transtracheal endoluminal suture of iatrogenic lacerations of the m embranous trachea and our results with this approach in 8 patients. This me thod is less invasive than conventional cervical or transthoracic approache s. (Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:984-6) (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surg eons.