[Surgery of inflammatory and neoplastic tracheal stenosis. Apropos of 38 cases]

This is a retrospective study of 38 patients who were operated on for inflammatory (31) or tumoral tracheal stenosis. A cervical approach was possible in 20 cases; a sternotomy was required in 8 cases and a thoracotomy in 5 cases. Per-operative ventilation was satisfactory for all patients. There were 2 deaths in patients suffering from chronic airflow obstruction. There were 2 immediate and 13 late post-operative stenosis; 9 of these were symptomatic and required treatment which was successful in 7 cases. 25 of the 30 patients (among 33 survivors) who were followed-up were symptomless; 4 patients who had operations for a tumour had a larger than 3 years survival.