Use of the Montgomery T-tube in tracheal surgery

The Montgomery T-tube was used in 33 patients over a total of 100 cases undergoing tracheal surgery. Of 21 cases with inflammatory stricture the T-tube was used in 18 in association with resection and end-to-end anastomosis, while in the remaining 3 cases the T-tube was the only treatment carried out. The results were good in 48% of cases, poor in 17% and still to be assessed in 29%. In neoplastic diseases (10 cases) the use of the Montgomery T-tube ensures the patency of the tracheal lumen avoiding the possible, severe asphyxial crises. The major limits of the T-tube appear to be its ineffectiveness against extended tracheomalacia and its possible displacement which may lead to asphyxial crises.