Airway reconstruction in Wegener's granulomatosis-associated laryngotracheal stenosis

Open airway reconstruction is considered definitive treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS). Although most cases of LTS are not autoimmune, there are few data reported in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. In this study, we aimed to assess outcomes of airway reconstruction in LTS patients with Wegener's compared to nonautoimmune patients.

Retrospective chart review of LTS cases managed with open airway reconstruction at an academic medical center.

Patients who underwent open airway reconstruction for LTS due to Wegener's or nonautoimmune causes were identified from 1995 to 2010. Clinical, demographic, and procedural data were recorded. Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and McNemar's test were used to test for significance.

A total of 53 patients were identified; eight Wegener's, 45 nonautoimmune, with median follow-up time of 8.3 and 1.8 years, respectively. Before reconstruction, there was no statistical difference between Wegener's and nonautoimmune patients with previous dilations (88% vs. 68%, P = .41) and tracheostomy dependence (50% vs. 42%, P = .72). Following reconstruction, 75% Wegener's and 36% nonautoimmune patients required further dilations (P = .05), with a decannulation rate of 75% and 58% (P = 1.0), respectively.

Wegener's patients have an increased need for dilations after open airway reconstruction for LTS. However, these patients can be decannulated after surgery at a rate similar to patients with nonautoimmune LTS.