Reoperative tracheal resection and reconstruction for unsuccessful repair of postintubation stenosis

Objective: Our objective was to analyze characteristics and results of redo tracheal resection and reconstruction. Methods: Seventy-five patients were operated on between 1966 and 1997 after unsuccessful initial repairs for postintubation tracheal stenosis. Results: Sixteen of these patients came from a group of 32 patients with unsuccessful repair among the 450 primary resections and reconstructions performed at our institution. Fifty-nine patients were referred to us after unsuccessful initial repair elsewhere. Initial management was a T-tube or tracheotomy in 39 patients. The length of repeat resection ranged from 1.0 cm to 5.5 cm (mean 3.5 cm). A laryngeal release was used in 19 patients (25%) to reduce anastomotic tension. Complications occurred in 29 patients (39%) and were most frequent in the group requiring laryngeal release (12/19, 63.2%). Overall outcome was good in 59 patients (78.6%) and satisfactory in 10 (13.3%). The repair was unsuccessful in four patients (5.3%), and two patients died (2.6%). Conclusions: Despite difficulties encountered in reoperative surgery after failed tracheal reconstruction for postintubation stenosis, successful outcome may be achieved in a large number of cases. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;114:934-9)