단단문합술로 치료한 후두기관 협착 4례

4 cases of laryngotracheal stenosis treated with end-to-end anastomosis

Management of laryngotracheal stenosis remains one of the most challenging problems facing the otolaryngologist. The key to success is to obtain adequate rigid circular support with normal mucosal lining. Four Patients with laryngotracheal stenosis were surgically treated in our institution in 2000. All the patients were male adults. The cause of stenosis were longterm or repeated endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy in our patients. All patients were successfully decannulated following segmental resection of the stenotic portion including the anterior arch of the cricoid cartilage and end-to-end anastomosis after suprahyoid laryngeal release. The time between treatment and decannulation was just one day in three patients. These results suggest the Possibility of early decannulation even if the cricoid cartilage was partially resected. It is better to prevent laryngotracheal stenosis rather than to treat it once it has occurred.