[Recurrence of peritracheostoma and emergency tracheotomy]

The relationship between emergency tracheotomy (ET) and stomal recurrence (SR) was evaluated in 369 patients who underwent surgery for laryngeal cancer. Emergency tracheostomy was performed in 31 patients. Age, sex, primary location, T stage, pN stage, histological grading, and time from emergency tracheotomy to definitive treatment were examined. Stomal recurrence occurred in 2.1% overall; in 1.2% of the tracheotomy-free group, and in 13% (4/31) of the emergency tracheotomy group (p < 0.0001). Recurrences were significantly more frequent in subglottic (p = 0.00007) and T3 lesions (p < 0.0001). Emergency tracheostomy often is needed in patients who have primary subglottic tumors or tumors than invade the subglottis. The relationship between ET and SR appears to be more circumstantial than causal. Aggressive local treatment is recommended in patients with subglottic lesions or subglottic tumor extension to prevent SR.