Superiorly Based Flap Tracheostomy

Superiorly based flap을 이용한 기관절개술

The superiorly based flap tracheostomy(SBFT) has been advocated as an new technique of tracheostomy to manage a wide variety of causes of upper airway obstruction. This technique has particular applicability in patients who require long term tracheostomy such as in bilateral vocal cord paralysis and severe obstructive sleep apnea. SBFT has numerous advantages such as shortening of the gap between the skin and trachea : construction of a self-sustaining tract ; circumferential mucocutaneous junction to reduce infection, granulation tissue, bleeding, and stenosis of the tract : avoidance of the laryngotracheal damage : easy placement of a tracheostomal stent to promote speech, coughing and swallowing. Most of all, this technique can reduces the suprastomal buckling by the support of the superiorly based tracheal flap, and thus prevents the stenosis of suprastomal airway. The disadvantage of SBFT is more time-consuming procedure than the conventional tracheostomy, A retrospective analysis of 8 patients undergoing SBFT between June, 1994 and March, 1995 in Dankook University Hospital was performed to present the surgical technique and com-plication rates. The average duration of follow up was 11 months. The complications were consisted of a wound infection and a sternal granulation. The other complications including wound dehiscence, tracheitis, pneumonia, tracheal granulation, sternal narrowing and subglottic stenosis were not experienced.