[Experiences with surgery of the trachea. An analysis of 135 cases (author's transl)]

The different surgical approaches for the correction of tracheal stenosis are analysed in 135 patients who were treated by us during the past 15 years. Poor results were associated with dilatation alone. Tracheomalacia was successfully managed in 51% of the patients by using Schobel's technique of acrylic plastic frames, while sleeve resections succeeded in nearly 90% of the cases (particularly when absorbable suture material was used and the patient was given cortisone for six weeks postoperatively). The staged open "channel" technique described by Rethi (1959, 1967) was also used, and was modified by an island flap method. We have used this one-stage method during the past three years, and have been able to reduce the time needed for treatment from nearly one year to 110 days. In so doing, the average number of operations for one patient could be decreased from 4.25 to 1.27, while the success rate for surgery increased from 73 to 92%.