[Choice of surgical procedure on the trachea]

The operative possibilities: fenestration and transsection of the trachea with closure of the defect by autoplasty, alloplasty, or end-to-end-anastomosis are described with a review of the literature. The choice of surgical procedure depends on the localization, type and extension of the tracheal lesion. Two case histories - one patient with a cylindroma and another with an inflammatory stenosis - are demonstrated. In both cases tracheal fenestration and closure of the defect by a pleural graft including support with a free transplanted autologous ribbone was applied. The reasons for this procedure are described. Of particular interest is the demonstration of the advantages and limitations of this method.