Postoperative outcome of tracheal resection in benign and malignant tracheal stenosis

Tracheal or cricotracheal resection is the standard of care for definitive treatment of tracheal stenosis. However, the incidence is low, the management is complex, and only a few centres have reported their experience. Therefore, more clinical reports on this topic are needed.

We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent tracheal or cricotracheal resection for malignant or benign tracheal stenosis in our institution between 2001 and 2016. Fisher’s exact test was used for analysis of complications and recurrence. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

37 patients, aged 19–74, underwent tracheal (n = 21, 56.8%) or cricotracheal (n = 16, 43.2%) resection for idiopathic (n = 15, 40.5%), neoplasm-related (n = 11, 29.7%), postintubation/-tracheotomy (n = 10, 27%), and congenital (n = 1, 2.7%) stenosis. Cervical incision was applied in 28 patients (75.7%), and an extended access (5 thoracotomy, 3 hemiclamshell, 1 partial-sternotomy) was required in 9 patients (24.3%). Mediastinal lymphadenectomy was done in 7 patients (18.9%), all with neoplasm-related stenosis. Median resection length was 2.8 cm (range 1.0–6.0), and longer than 4.0 cm in 6 cases (16.2%). Release manoeuvre was performed in 7 patients (18.9%). All patients were extubated immediately after surgery and median hospital stay was 5 days (range 3–15). Median follow-up was 6 months (range, 1-93). There was no 30-day mortality, and no dehiscence or fistula occurred at the suture line. Complications were seen in 11 patients (29.7%), significantly correlating to malignant stenosis (p = 0.011) and surgical procedure, meaning extended access (p = 0.011), mediastinal lymphadenectomy (p = 0.016), and release manoeuvres (p = 0.016). Temporary hoarseness was the most common complication (n = 5, 13.5%), but remained persistent in only one patient (n = 1, 2.7%). Recurrence was seen only in patients with idiopathic stenosis (n = 5, 13.5%).

Our results confirm good efficacy for surgical resection of tracheal stenosis. The complication rate is relatively low in comparison to the literature, suggesting the importance of managing tracheal stenosis in a tertiary referral centre.