Use of the silicone T-tube to treat tracheal stenosis or tracheal injury.
BACKGROUND
Tracheal stenosis or tracheal injury is a troublesome disease. Traditional temporary tracheostomy and reconstruction can resolve some problems. However other problems such as subglottic stenosis and supracarinal stenosis, cannot be resolved by simple tracheostomy. The silicone tracheal T-tube presents a substitute for stent of this complicated disease.


METHODS
Eleven patients with tracheal stenosis or tracheal injury were managed with the silicone T-tube prosthesis from 1995 to 1999. Among them 5 cases were characterized by subglottic and cervical stenosis, 4 cases supracarinal stenosis, and 2 cases tracheal injury. The silicone T-tube was used for about one year in all patients with satisfactory results.


RESULTS
One patient was excluded from the study because of death due to unrelated disease. The T-tubes were removed successfully one year later. Among them, two patients with granuloma over the subglottic area were treated by CO(2) laser 2 to 4 times. The stoma was closed by repeated silver nitrate application.


CONCLUSIONS
The silicone T-tube is a useful prosthesis for tracheal stenosis or tracheal injury with minimal complication in place of traditional tracheostomy or complex tracheal reconstruction.
Huang
C J
CJ
Thoracic Surgery of Surgical Department, Mackay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Section 2, Chung-San North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012828:Silicones; D015607:Stents; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*
D012828:Silicones