Laryngotracheal stenosis: a single-center retrospective analysis of endoscopic treatment strategies and recurrence

Laryngotracheal stenosis is a process of fibrosis that results in airway obstruction; it may be congenital or acquired. Acquired cases are due to iatrogenic, traumatic, infectious and autoimmune causes. Patients present with a spectrum of breathing difficulties that might be fatal. This article presents a unique retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with laryngotracheal stenosis who had endoscopic dilatation, and some had open surgical procedures to describe the evolution after the therapy, to compare the outcomes of the dilatation in comparison to surgical interventions and associated complications in other studies, to provide knowledge to help in dealing with these patients, and to enable educated, independent patient decision-making. In this observational and descriptive study, we aimed to highlight the clinical features, management, and treatment outcomes among twenty-nine patients with laryngotracheal stenosis who were managed by open and endoscopic surgical intervention over a period of 5 years. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients' medical records from February 2016 until July 2022 at a hospital in Jerusalem, which is a tertiary healthcare facility and the only referral center for similar cases from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, with a population of around 8 million. Tables and graphs are used to highlight the statistical study's findings. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. Twenty-nine patients were involved in the study, with an average age of 32.2 years; 51.7% of them were males. The patients had one or more chronic conditions, such as hypertension and coronary artery disease. The majority of patients (65.5%) had stenosis as a result of orotracheal intubation, and the most common site was the subglottic (68.9%). According to the Cotton-Myer classification, 44.8% of the patients were classified in grade III, 34.4% were included in grade I, 13.7% in grade II, and 6.8% in grade IV. Six patients (20.68%) received surgery for stenosis, and 23 patients had an endo-laryngeal dilatation. Restenosis happened in (58.6%). Mortality rates are almost negligible. Subglottic stenosis is still a challenging condition to manage. The authors describe a single-center experience approach dealing with these conditions. Long-term follow-up for these cases is mandatory as the recurrence rate is still high.