tracheal stenosis : surgical management and results

Introduction :Laryngo-tracheal stenosis may be idiopathic or secondary to intubation. Various therapeutic means can be proposed, but management is often surgical. In this study, we report on the results of surgery in the management of tracheal stenosis. Methods :Retrospective descriptive study of 36 patients who underwent tracheal anastomotic resection for tracheal stenosis in the thoracic surgery department of Abderrahmane Mami Hospital, Ariana , from January 2012 to December 2023. <bold>Results:</bold> There were 25 men and 11 women. Mean age was 31 years. A history of ventilatory assistance by intubation was found in 26 cases for traumatic causes and in 10 cases for a medical cause. Intubation was followed by tracheostomy in 10 cases. Stenosis was idiopathic in 2 cases. Symptoms included high dyspnea in all cases. Dysphonia was present in 18 cases. all patients underwent endoscopic and scannographic examinations to determine the location, degree and extent of stenosis. endoscopic treatment was initially attempted in 18 cases: eleven patients underwent dilatation and seven underwent laser dilatation. the approach was a Kocher cervicotomy in 35 cases. a sternotomy was performed in only one patient where the stenosis was very low. The procedure involved tracheotracheal anastomosis in 26 cases and cricotracheal resection in 10 cases. mean length of resected tracheal segment was 3cm (1.5 cm - 5.5 cm).post-operative follow-up was straightforward in 33 cases, complicated by pneumothorax in one case, parietal infection in one case, and a tracheo-arterial fistula in 1 case. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Tracheal stenosis is a potentially fatal condition. Despite measures to prevent stenosis, this complication can still occur. Treatment is multidisciplinary, and surgery offers good long-term results.