External tracheal stabilization technique for acquired tracheomalacia using a tailored silicone tube.

Abstract

Here, we describe an external tracheal stabilization technique used in a patient with tracheomalacia. A 56-year-old man presented with tracheomalacia due to prolonged mechanical ventilation. The malacic tracheal segment was approximately 2 cm in length. The malacic segment was covered with a silicone tube sutured in place using Prolene sutures (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ). Several anchoring sutures were placed between the tracheal mucosa and the silicone tube without violating the mucosal continuity. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 5 without complication. This method of external tracheal stabilization is a less invasive alternative for the management of this particular patient.