Management of complications of tracheal surgery--a case of dehiscence

We report a case of tracheal stenosis in a patient with immunethrombocytopenia who presented 4 yr after splenectomy. The 20-yrprogression of the stenosis and management, including resection,is charted. The period after resection was complicated by woundinfection, surgical emphysema, mediastinitis and dehiscenceof the anastomosis of the trachea. The management of patientswith tracheal lesions is discussed, but concentrates on airwaycare after tracheal resection when complications developed.A laryngeal mask airway was used to stabilize an uncuffed trachealtube at the site of dehiscence. Footnotes ² Present address: Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK