Tracheal stenosis: The long and the short of it

Purpose: The aim of this study was to present slide tracheoplasty:as the pr ocedure of choice for tracheal stenosis. From 1990 through 1997, patients r eferred to University of California, San Francisco for tracheal stenosis we re managed by resection and anastomosis. During this period, other centers reported successful use of slide tracheoplasty and, from 1998 to 1999, we p erformed 3 slide tracheoplasties in addition to 3 more resection and anasto mosis procedures. Methods: Between 1990 and 1999, 9 patients with tracheal stenosis of varyin g lengths underwent surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. They we re treated surgically with either resection and anastomosis or wit h slide tracheoplasty. Results: Two of the 6 patients treated by resection and anastomosis had an anastomotic breakdown; all 3 patients undergoing slide tracheoplasty did no t have anastomotic problems. Technically, a slide tracheoplasty has only on e ha If the tension distributed over an oblique anastomosis that is more th an the circumferential length of a resection and anastomosis approach. Conclusion: Based on these results, a slide tracheoplasty may be the proced ure of choice for tracheal stenosis, whether long or short.