Circumferential tracheal reconstruction for the functional treatment of airway compromise.

Abstract

The objective was to describe a surgical technique for replacement of long tracheal defects with a totally autologous free prefabricated cutaneous chondromucosal forearm tubular flap, applied to humans. Surgical reconstruction of the trachea. A three-stage surgery was performed in a 25-year-old patient who presented with a long tracheal defect not resolved by previous resection with primary anastomosis and laser surgery. The staged surgery has been well tolerated by the patient, and no problems at all were reported. The postoperative computed tomography scan and the bronchofibroscopy examination of the "neo-trachea" at 2 and 6 months revealed normal caliber, good healing of the suture lines, absence of crusts or granulation tissue, and a well-vascularized internal mucosal lining. The modified flap reconstruction technique has the potential to be considered reliable for the definitive circumferential reconstruction of extensive laryngotracheal defects not amenable to being cured by conventional techniques.