[Treatment of tracheal stenosis or obliteration]

The authors present the material of 55 patients, who were treated in ENT Department of Medical University of Bydgoszcz between 1992 and 2002. The authors distinguish four groups of patients: 1) with the tracheal stenosis or obliteration, who had to be treated by excision of the stenosed part of the trachea, 2) with the tracheal stenosis treated with laser CO2 beam, 3) with the tracheal stenosis treated by laryngectomy before, 4) not treated surgically because of different reasons. The authors present diagnostic and therapeutical problems in each group on the basis of the observed material. They also discuss application of laryngeal neurostimulator during the operation of cutting out the stenotic or obliterated part of trachea. On the basis of the analysis of presented material they express opinion that the term "tracheal stenosis" includes a number of different pathological cases requiring different diagnostic and treatment procedures. They also think that pathological changes called "tracheal stenosis" should be treated in clinical centers with long experience and proper equipment.