Management of tracheal wall resection for thyroid carcinoma by tracheocutaneous fenestration and delayed closure using auricular cartilage.
BACKGROUND
In the case of advanced thyroid carcinoma invading the trachea, surgical procedures for tracheal resection are selected in relation to the degree of invasion. We created a tracheocutaneous fenestration that was later closed with a free auricular cartilage autograft. We present a simple and effective method for permanent closure of tracheostoma.


METHODS
The surgical procedure for delayed closure consists of three steps: (1) preparing the hinge flap with additional undermining of the subcutaneous layer and the strap muscles; (2) removing a portion of the conchal cartilage from the auricle, which is easily performed with a semicircular skin incision along the anthelix of the ear; and (3) placing the conchal cartilage with its convex surface upward just over the sutured hinge flap layer.


RESULTS
Under local anesthesia, we successfully employed this reconstructive procedure for 5 patients. Unfortunately, however, in one patient, we had to reopen the closed tracheocutaneous fenestration on the second postoperative day because of an acute problem that was independent of the closure surgery. Four patients remain in satisfactory condition for more than 2 years since the closure of tracheostoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The auricular cartilage free graft is a relatively simple procedure which supplies tracheal wall skeletal support for the permanent closure of the tracheocutaneous fenestration.
Sugenoya
A
A
Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Matsuo
K
K
Asanuma
K
K
Shingu
K
K
Shimizu
T
T
Masuda
H
H
Kobayashi
S
S
Iida
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome