Slide thyrocricotracheoplasty for the treatment of high-grade subglottic stenosis in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe our early experiences with a novel surgical procedure, "slide thyrocricotracheoplasty," for the treatment of high-grade subglottic stenosis in children.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed in 7 children who underwent slide thyrocricotracheoplasty for high-grade subglottic stenosis from 1996 to 2009.


RESULTS
Three patients were male and four were female. The etiology of subglottic stenosis was congenital (n = 4) or acquired (n = 3). All patients had undergone a tracheostomy before slide thyrocricotracheoplasty. Median age at operation was 16 months (range, 1-25 months). The median follow-up period after definitive operation was 58 months (range, 13-156 months). There was one case requiring debridement and re-anastomosis of slide thyrocricotracheoplasty site because of anastomotic disruption caused by a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection of the cartilage and one case requiring a minor operation to remove granulation tissue. At final follow-up, all patients did not have any airway cannulation with satisfactory functional outcome in terms of breathing and swallowing. All except one were noted to have acceptable vocal function. The patient with unsatisfactory vocal function continued to receive voice rehabilitation treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Slide thyrocricotracheoplasty offers an efficient surgical treatment option with minimal morbidity for high-grade subglottic stenosis in children.
Department of Surgery, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin 120-175, South Korea.
Seong Min
SM
Kim
Jae Ho
JH
Shin
Eun Young
EY
Chang
Hye Kyung
HK
Chang
Jung Tak
JT
Oh
Seok Joo
SJ
Han
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality