Partial cricoid resection with primary tracheal anastomosis for subglottic stenosis in infants and children

Fifteen infants and children with a severe subglottic stenosis underwent a partial cricoid resection with primary tracheal anastomosis. The etiology of the stenosis was congenital in 3 cases and was acquired after prolonged intubation in 12. Fourteen patients were tracheotomy dependent at the time of surgery, and 13 (87%) of the 15 were classified grade III (7 cases) and IV (6 cases) according to Cotton. The resection included the cricoid only in 5 cases and the cricoid and a segment of trachea (1 to 4 rings) in 10 cases. Decannulation was achieved after a single open procedure in 14 (93%) of the cases. The authors encountered no lesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerves and no fatalities. There was, however, 1 restenosis. Twelve cases were decannulated within 6 months, most of them at 2 months. The postoperative voice is normal in 10 cases, and a slight dysphonia is present in 4 cases. Twelve patients show no exertional dyspnea, and 2 exhibit a slight stridor while practicing sports. Ten of 14 cases have been followed for more than 5 years, with the longest follow-up now being 14 years. In all cases, the laryngotracheal development is normal. The results of this small series compare favorably with those of laryngotracheoplasty procedures usually performed for subglottic stenosis in infants and children. In the future, partial cricoid resection with primary tracheal anastomosis should be considered as an important treatment option for severe subglottic stenoses in infants and children.     

Die Chirurgie der erworbenen laryngotrachealen Stenosen im Kindesalter. Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse von 1988–1998 Teil II: Die cricotracheale Resektion

Approximately 90% of infants and children with severe acquired laryngotracheal stenoses are tracheotomy dependent and therefore impaired in their physical and speech developments. In addition, tracheotomized infants can be endangered by the cannula due to the possible crusting of secretions or its dislocation. Thus, early repair of a stenosis is mandatory. Within the last 10 years, we successfully operated on 18 children with severe laryngotracheal stenoses. Ten children were treated with a modified Cotton technique. This paper reports our results of cricotracheal resection performed in 8 children since 1994 (age distribution: 7 months through age 15 years). Four children had Cotton grade II stenoses, three had grade III stenoses and one grade IV stenoses. In 3 patients a tracheotomy had been performed at another institution. Since their tracheostomas were too far caudal, they could not be included in the primary resection. All 8 children have been successfully decannulated. Five children without tracheotomies could be extubated uneventfully on the 5th postoperative day. All three primarily tracheotomized children needed further endotracheal stenting with T-tubes because of stomal and suprastomal collapse. Two of these latter children additionally required a tracheoplasty with rib cartilage grafts in order to stabilize the suprastomal trachea prior to decannulation. No patient experienced injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerves or insufficiencies of the anastomosis. All children's voices were not impaired. This is the third report in literature of cricotracheal resections in infants and children, indicating that this effective, one-stage procedure is superior to laryngotracheal reconstruction with rib cartilage.     

Cricotracheal resection

A surgeon facing the problem of a child with subglottic stenosis currently has a wide range of surgical options. Cricotracheal resection is the preferred option for grade IV and severe grade III stenoses that are clear of the vocal cords. Laryngotracheal reconstruction as a less extensive procedure is preferred for some grade II and less severe grade III stenoses. Stenosis close to the vocal cords remains a challenge and can be treated by extended partial cricotracheal resection. Pediatric surgeons and otolaryngologists should learn carefully the technique of partial cricotracheal resection for use in infants and children to achieve better results than with laryngotracheal reconstructions.     

Experience with laryngotracheal reconstruction in subglottic stenosis in a 30 years time period

BACKGROUND: Severe subglottic stenosis is a difficult condition to manage. It can be treated by laryngotracheal reconstruction or cricotracheal resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study the experiences for treatment of isolated subglottic stenosis in 37 patients (age: 3-78 years; stenosis grading: 20 x grade II, 13 x grade III, and 4 x grade IV) by laryngotracheal reconstruction in a 30-years experience are presented. RESULTS: In 33 out of 37 patients (89.2 %) a sufficient subglottic patency (postoperative endoscopic finding: stenosis less than 30 %) was achieved by laryngotracheal reconstruction. However, 5 patients of this series had required revision of laryngotracheal recontruction and in 22 patients endoscopic removal of granulation tissue had been performed. Sufficient widening of the subglottic space had been possible in all grade II stenosis (20/20), in 11 out of 13 patients with grade III stenosis, and in 3 out of 4 patients with grade IV stenosis. In one child an accidental decannulation occurred and due to asphyxia an apallic syndrome developed. CONCLUSIONS: Even through laryngotracheal reconstruction is a demanding surgical technique requiring great experience it is an effective option for treatment of subglottic stenosis less than 90 %. For severe subglottic stenosis (> 90 %) treatment by laryngotracheal reconstruction is possible and should be considered if mobilisation of the trachea by scar tissue is suited to be worse or to extended cricotracheal stenosis is present, both being not good candidates for cricotracheal resection.     

Surgical correction of subglottic stenosis in children. A follow-up study

In general, subglottic stenosis in children is one of the most difficult problems to treat surgically. Six patients, aged 4-9, requiring a tracheostomy due to severe subglottic stenosis are reviewed. Decannulation was difficult to perform in these cases. All children in this series underwent surgical correction of subglottic stenosis. Patients had been successfully decannulated with no evidence of recurrent stenosis and were followed up for a period of 2-9 years. Our cases which were followed up for 2-9 years address the issue raised by opponents of surgical correction of subglottic stenosis in children, namely the consideration that the laryngeal growth potential may be adversely affected by surgery.     

Laryngotracheal growth following cricotracheal resection combined with laminotomy. An experimental study on rabbits

Cricotracheal resection (CTR) has been shown to be successful in the treatment of pediatric subglottic stenosis. Whether CTR combined with posterior midline division or partial resection of the cricoid plate affects the stability and growth of the larynx is still questionable. The study included 24 infant female New Zealand White rabbits that were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each. Group 1 was the unoperated control group. Group 2 underwent removal of three quarters of the anterior cricoid circumference, followed by a primary anastomosis (CTR). In addition to CTR, the rabbits in group 3 underwent a laminotomy by splitting of the cricoid plate midline. Group 4 underwent both CTR and partial resection of the lamina. No stents were used in this study. After 6 months, the experiment was terminated, and the following observations were made. Groups 2 and 3 presented a large and stable subglottic lumen, comparable to that of the control group. After partial cricoid plate resection, 4 of the rabbits in group 4 suffered from a subglottic collapse that caused an airway obstruction and resulted in death. These results support the conclusion that CTR alone, as well as combined with laminotomy, can be performed in a relatively safe and effective manner without interfering with the development of the larynx in young rabbits. Cricotracheal resection together with partial resection of the cricoid plate, however, leads to an unstable situation with an impaired airway.     

Acquired subglottic cysts in premature infants

Advances in the management of premature infants have resulted in improved survival. However, long-term intubation may produce associated laryngeal complications. We report 12 infants and children who developed subglottic cysts following long-term intubation as newborns. The majority of the cysts were in the posterior subglottic larynx. Laser excision of the cysts was undertaken in 8 patients and 3 underwent removal with cupped forceps. Recurrent cysts in 3 patients required more than one endoscopic procedure. The differential diagnosis of stridor in infants who have required long-term intubation includes subglottic cysts. The cysts are not always obvious at endoscopy and indeed may be buried below the mucosa within a soft tissue subglottic stenosis. Their presence may be suspected when tiny beads of mucus are released when laser surgery of a soft tissue stenosis is applied. Successful management of these cysts includes early precise diagnosis, with careful identification of these cysts to differentiate them from other types of subglottic stenosis. An initial attempt of conservative management with endoscopic excision is made. If this fails, an anterior cricoid split may be indicated in cases where the cysts are associated with soft tissue subglottic stenosis. Tracheostomy may be unavoidable in some cases.     

呼吸道硬结病致瘢痕性喉狭窄的手术治疗

目的：探讨呼吸道硬结病致瘢痕性喉狭窄的临床特点和治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析7例导致瘢痕性喉狭窄的呼吸道硬结病的临床资料和治疗方法。结果：对4例单纯喉瘢痕性喉狭窄者,行喉裂开成形术,术后随访7-14年,无复发;喉及颈段气管瘢痕性狭窄2例,行喉气管成形腔内扩张术和舌骨肌瓣成形术各1例,术后分别随访6年和8年,均无复发;1例声门下狭窄患者术后声门下腔宽敞,但术后3个月复查时,肉芽肿病变增生致声门下闭锁,手术失败。结论：瘢痕性喉狭窄应根据不同的病变部位采取相应的手术方式,术中须避免过多的粘膜损伤,以防再度狭窄;对严重的喉气管狭窄者应用粘膜瓣、骨肌瓣等组织充分增加狭窄部的管壁以解除狭窄。     

Cricotracheal resection in children weighing less than 10 kg

OBJECTIVE: To review cricotracheal resection (CTR) in children weighing less than 10 kg. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study of 17 patients (mean follow-up, 23 months) from 3 ear, nose, and throat pediatric centers. PATIENTS: Seventeen children (10 boys and 7 girls; mean age, 14.6 months; and mean weight, 7.6 kg) undergoing CTR from June 1995 to March 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Decannulation rates and endoscopies. RESULTS: The cause was congenital subglottic stenosis in 2 children (12%) and acquired subglottic stenosis in 15 (88%). All but 1 had grade 3 or 4 stenosis. The mean hospitalization duration was 34 days. Single-stage CTR was performed in 11 children (65%), with peroperative decannulation in 7. Extubation of these patients occurred between days 3 and 9. Decannulation of the other 6 patients was performed after a median of 15 days. Sixteen (94%) of the 17 children were decannulated. Four patients required additional carbon dioxide laser treatment for subsequent glottic or subglottic edema or granulomas, but no reintubation was necessary. One child could not be decannulated because of bronchopulmonary disease, and subglottic stenosis recurred. Long-term tracheotomy was avoided in all other patients. Another child died of cardiac disease. All other patients remained free of significant subglottic stenosis at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Cricotracheal resection in small children weighing less than 10 kg was a safe and effective procedure for severe subglottic stenosis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported attempt of CTR in this weight category, providing results comparable to those published in older children.     

Challenging tracheal resection anastomosis: Case series

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to review our experience in Otorhinolaryngology Department, Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, in the last 2 years in the management of high-risk patients who underwent cricotracheal resection due to different pathologies.MethodsThis case series included nine patients with severe, grade III or IV subglottic / cervical tracheal stenosis. These patients were considered high risk patients due to unusual pathology / etiology of stenosis or associated surgical field morbidity. Four patients had recurrent stenosis after previous unsuccessful cricotracheal resection, three patients had subglottic stenosis due to external neck trauma which compromised the surgical field. One patient had upper tracheal neoplasm, and in 1 patient there was upper tracheal stenosis associated with tracheo-esophageal fistula.ResultsSuccessful decannulation was achieved in all patients (n = 9) without any reported major intraoperative or postoperative compilations.ConclusionCases of subglottic / upper tracheal stenosis due to uncommon pathologies like neoplastic lesions, external neck trauma compromising the surgical field and revision cricotracheal resection, can be successfully managed by cricotracheal resection. However, a highly skilled team, well familiar with these surgeries, is mandatory to achieve an optimum outcome.     

Revision single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction in children

In this report, we discuss indications, technique, outcome, and complications of revision single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction (SSLTR), formulate guidelines to avoid or prevent procedure failure, and establish a protocol for the management of procedure failure. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 122 patients between the ages of 8 months and 9 years who underwent SSLTR between January 1992 and September 2001 in 2 tertiary care children's medical centers in different cities and assessed the outcomes of patients who underwent revision SSLTR. A total of 122 patients underwent SSLTR, of whom 48 patients underwent anterior and posterior grafting. Of the 122 patients, 13 had revision SSLTR; 8 of these 13 underwent the initial laryngotracheal reconstruction at another institution. Five patients had anterior grafting laryngotracheal reconstruction without stenting, 7 had anterior and posterior grafting with 1 to 21 days of endotracheal intubation, and I had cricotracheal resection and anastomosis. Of the 13 patients, 5 had anterior wall or graft collapse (grade IV stenosis), 4 had subglottic stenosis (grade IV), 2 had circumferential subglottic stenosis (grade III), and 2 had subglottic and glottic stenosis (grade IV). The overall success rate for all patients was 86% (105 of 122). The success rates for the 122 patients were as follows: anterior grafting, 100%; anterior and posterior grafting, 83% (40 of 48); and revision cases, 70% (9 of 13). We conclude that laryngotracheal reconstruction with a costal cartilage rib graft should be considered the procedure of choice for the management of subglottic stenosis. We believe that patients in whom the first procedure fails should have a high chance of success with revision SSLTR if strict guidelines and protocols are followed.     

Posterior cricoid split with costal cartilage augmentation for high subglottic stenosis

Background  Stenosis of the upper subglottis presents special problems. Its vicinity to the vocal folds leads to a high incidence of vocal fold fixation, and also precludes surgical treatment by cricotracheal resection and anastomosis Objective  To describe the experience with posterior cricoid split and insertion of free costal cartilage graft in the treatment of high subglottic stenosis and posterior commissure glottic stenosis. Setting  Tertiary care university hospital. Methods  Four cases with Grade III/ IV high subglottic stenosis/ posterior commissure glottic webbing recalcitrant to previous surgical therapy treated with posterior cricoid split and insertion of free costal cartilage graft by a laryngo-fissure approach. Temporary airway stenting for 4 months post surgery with a silicone T-Tube. Results  Successful restoration of the airway and decannulation in all 4 cases. Conclusion  Grade III or IV stenosis of the upper half of the subglottis is successfully treated in a high proportion of patients with posterior cricoid split and augmentation with costal cartilage free graft.     

Surgical treatment of laryngeal tumors with subglottic extension and tracheal tumors with composite nasal septal cartilage graft: technique and outcome

OBJECTIVE: Composite nasal septal cartilage grafts (CNSCG) are effective grafting materials in laryngeal and tracheal reconstruction following tumor resection. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2005, we used CNSCG for the reconstruction of defects following resection of laryngeal tumors with subglottic extension (20 cases), subglottic mesenchymal tumors (2 cases), invasive thyroid carcinoma (4 cases), tracheal tumors (3 cases) and esophagus carcinoma with tracheal invasion (1 case) in total of 30 patients. RESULTS: The patients with subglottic tumors were decanulated within 5-7 days except one case. We achieved satisfactory voice and swallowing without any sign of recurrence. Overall complications consisted of subglottic stenosis in one case, and unilateral paralysis of recurrent laryngeal nerve in two cases. One patient with subglottic laryngeal carcinoma died due to neck and distant metastases 4 years after the operation. All patients are well with a mean follow-up period 9 years. Three patients with tracheal tumors underwent lateral resection and reconstructed with CNSCG. Satisfactory healing of the grafts was seen in all cases without local recurrence or complication with a mean follow-up period of 62 months. One of the patients had distant metastases 3 years after the operation. The patient with esophagus carcinoma and tracheal invasion was treated by total esophagectomy, gastric pull-up, tracheal resection and CNSCG reconstruction. He died at postoperative 5th day due to mediastinitis as a complication of gastric pull-up. CONCLUSION: Free composite cartilage graft is a reliable material in the reconstruction of defects after surgery of laryngeal tumors with subglottic extension, invasive thyroid and esophagus tumors and well-selected tracheal tumors.     

颈部气管狭窄及断裂的手术治疗

报告19例颈部气管狭窄或伴声门下狭窄,颈部气管断裂患者,对气管狭窄或伴声门下狭窄行环状软骨部分切除与气管一期吻合,对气管断裂,狭窄病变气管环切除,气管端端吻合。术后长期随访效果满意。并对潜在并发症的预防及治疗进行讨论。     

Tubeless Laryngotracheal Surgery in Infants and Children via Jet Ventilation Laryngoscope

We present the first use of tubeless superimposed combined high- and low-frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) with a jet laryngoscope in laryngotracheal surgery in infants and children. Twenty-eight patients underwent 53 operative procedures. The average age of the patients was 7.3 years. The most common diagnoses were laryngeal papillomatosis and subglottic stenosis. The duration of jet ventilation averaged 33 min. The gas exchange was sufficient in each case. The advantages of SHFJV in the surgery of the laryngotracheal area in infants and children are optimal view at the larynx and trachea, maximum space for the handling, application of the laser without risks, no time limitation, suitability for stenosis, and neither anesthetic nor surgical complications.     

Cricotracheal resection in nontracheotomized adults: a prospective case series

OBJECTIVES: Cricotracheal resection is a modern technique of airway reconstruction used in cases of subglottic stenosis. We report a case series of adult, nontracheotomized patients. METHODS: Fifteen patients with significant subglottic stenosis were identified as presenting with dyspnea and stridor. The stenosis was grade III in 14 cases and grade II in 1 case, according to the Cotton classification. The causes were manifold, with intubation and tracheostomy being the predominant risk factors. Cricotracheal resection was performed in all cases with preoperative and postoperative videotracheoscopy. RESULTS: The mean postoperative intubation time was 41.7 hours (11 to 103 hours), and the mean length of stay in the intensive care unit was 2.6 days (3 to 9 days). Videotracheoscopy for reassessment was performed after 96 days (average). In 13 of the 15 patients the subglottic lumen was returned to a normal diameter. In 1 case a recurrent stenosis was managed with repeated endoscopic interventions. One patient died on postoperative day 4 because of a pulmonary embolism. Additional complications consisted of 1 axillary venous embolism, 4 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and 1 case of transient unilateral recurrent nerve palsy that recovered completely. CONCLUSIONS: Cricotracheal resection is a reliable and versatile technique for the reconstruction of the subglottic airway, almost regardless of the underlying cause. Most complications observed have not been associated directly with the procedure, but reflect the significant comorbidity of the patient population. There seems to be an increased risk for thromboembolic events that may be a consequence of the preoperative immobilization of dyspneic patients.     

Single-or-two-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction; comparison of outcomes

To compare single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction (SSLTR) and reconstruction with tracheostomy and indwelling stent (two-stage LTR), a retrospective review was made of 69 patients undergoing laryngotracheal reconstruction for subglottic stenosis at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. Pre-operative details recorded included grade and aetiology of subglottic stenosis, history of previous laryngeal surgery, sex of patient and age at reconstruction. As a measure of outcome, the total number of procedures including all endoscopy and further reconstruction was recorded as well as de-cannulation rate, and the need for more than one reconstruction. The patients undergoing two-stage reconstruction tended to have more severe stenosis (mean grade = 2.56) compared to the SSLTR group (mean grade = 2.14) and were more likely to have had previous laryngeal surgery. Inevitably, the outcome after reconstruction in the two-stage patients is therefore less favourable, and direct comparison of the two groups is not statistically valid. However, multiple regression analysis reveals that single-stage reconstruction does confer a significant independent advantage over the two-stage procedure in terms of average number of post reconstruction procedures (p = 0.006), and a significant advantage in de-cannulation rate (p = 0.03). No difference was noted in the requirement for further reconstruction between the two groups. Although a two-stage procedure is still required in certain cases such as those with very severe stenosis or respiratory insufficiency, the single-stage reconstruction is the procedure of choice for uncomplicated paediatric subglottic stenosis.     

Modern management of laryngotracheal stenosis

OBJECTIVES: Laryngotracheal stenosis is a complex problem resulting most often from intubation, trauma,or autoimmune disease. Management options include dilation or airway reconstruction including laryngotracheoplasty (LTP), cricotracheal resection (CTR), and tracheal resection (TR). We describe our experience with management of this difficult problem. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of patients treated for laryngotracheal stenosis between January 1995 and July 2005 at an academic, tertiary referral center. METHODS: A total of 127 patients were treated during the study period. Patients were followed, and hospital records were reviewed. RESULTS: There were 38 male and 89 female patients with an average age of 55.5 years treated for laryngotracheal stenosis resulting from intubation (64), idiopathic (25) or autoimmune disease (18), radiation (9), trauma (5), prior surgery (4), and relapsing polychondritis (2). Thirty-three percent were treated for grade I stenosis, 44% grade II, 19% grade III, and 4% grade IV. Seventy percent of patients undergoing initial dilation required a subsequent procedure. LTP, CTR, or TR was performed in 43%, 48%, 71%, and 100% of patients with grade I through IV stenosis, respectively. Among 76 patients undergoing LTP, CTR, or TR, 24 (32%) required a subsequent intervention. Among 36 patients treated with primary LTP, CTR, or TR, only 10 (28%) required further therapy. Twenty-two of 35 (63%) tracheostomy-dependent patients were ultimately decannulated. Three patients died in the immediate postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing dilation for laryngotracheal stenosis require multiple procedures. However, major reconstructive procedures are well tolerated and currently represent a viable primary treatment for laryngotracheal stenosis.     

Surgical treatment of non-malignant laryngotracheal stenosis

The objectives of this study were the following: (1) to analyze the results of surgical treatment of non-malignant subglottic laryngeal and tracheal stenosis, (2) to evaluate the feasibility and technical aspects of the video mediastinoscopy for the mobilization of the mediastinal trachea, (3) to evaluate the influence of the early internal condition of the anastomosis on the development of restenosis. From 1996 up to 2013, 75 patients aged 11–78 years underwent surgery for post-intubation/tracheostomy (71 patients), post-traumatic (3 patients), and idiopathic (1 patient) subglottic laryngeal and tracheal stenosis. Twenty-three (30.7 %) patients with subglottic laryngeal and upper tracheal stenosis underwent cricotracheal resection and thyrotracheal anastomosis (group A), while 52 (69.3 %) patients with tracheal stenosis underwent tracheal resection and cricotracheal or tracheotracheal anastomosis (group B). The length of the resected segment in patients of groups A and B was 28–55 (42 ± 11) mm and 18–65 (36 ± 14) mm, respectively, (p = 0.22). Perioperative complications within 30 days occurred in eight (34.8 %) patients of group A, and in six (11.5 %) patients of group B (p = 0.04). There was one intraoperative and one postoperative death on the third day due to heart failure. The excellent results were achieved in 63 (86.3 %), satisfactory in 8 (11.0 %), and unsatisfactory in 2 (2.7 %) patients. The incidence rate of perioperative complications is related to the location of the stenosis and the type of the resection and anastomosis. Video mediastinoscopy simplifies the mobilization of the mediastinal trachea, which allows for carrying out the anastomosis with minimal tension. Early internal abnormalities of the anastomosis predict its restenosis.     

喉气管狭窄的病因及其临床特点分析

目的 总结喉气管狭窄的病因及临床特点,为其临床诊治提供参考.方法 分析2016年1月至2017年12月246例喉气管狭窄患者的临床资料,总结其病因、发病年龄、性别、狭窄的部位和严重程度等特点.结果 246例患者中,男167例,女80例;气管插管及气管切开造成喉气管狭窄121例(49.19％),创伤46例(18.70％)...