Inflammatory stenosis of the trachea

The authors report their experience of 30 cases of inflammatory tracheal stenosis. Of the patients, 53.4% showed postoperative improvement, while in 10% mediocre results were observed (50% reduction of the tracheal lumen). After a second operation, however, the rate of failure was reduced from 26.6% to 13.3%. Postoperative mortality was 10%. An examination of these results demonstrates that tracheal surgery is not always successful at the first attempt and that the complications involved (granulations, recurrent stenosis) require further definition.