Single-stage surgical repair of benign laryngotracheal stenosis in adults.

BACKGROUND: Benign laryngotracheal stenosis causes considerable morbidity. In a retrospective study, we describe the results of our surgical treatment.

METHODS: Between June 1999 and June 2002, 14 adults with laryngotracheal stenosis were referred to our hospital. Stenosis resulted from mechanical ventilation in 11 patients, from Wegener's granulomatosis in 2 patients, and from strangulation in 1 patient. Eleven patients had a tracheotomy. One patient was found unfit for surgery. Nine patients underwent cricotracheal resection (CTR) with end-to-end anastomosis, and four patients underwent single-stage laryngotracheoplasty (SS-LTP) without stenting.

RESULTS: There were no perioperative deaths. Patients were extubated after mean of 3 days (range, 0-10 days; CTR 2.3 days vs SS-LTP 3.5 days, p=.45). There were in-hospital complications in five patients. Mean hospital stay was 19 days (range, 8-53 days; after CTR 24 days vs SS-LTP 9 days, p=.015). With regard to airway patency and voice recovery, 10 patients (77%) had good results, including 1 patient with two readmissions, and 3 (23%) had satisfactory results, including 1 patient with 11 additional nonsurgical interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: Benign laryngotracheal stenosis in the adult patient can be repaired successfully using a strategy of two single-stage surgical procedures. All patients had good or satisfactory functional results. A multidisciplinary approach was essential to achieve these good results.