title: Tracheocutaneous fistula as a complication of laryngotracheal separation surgery.
abstract: To evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of tracheocutaneous fistula of the proximal tracheal stump regarding the indication (therapeutic or prophylactic) of laryngotracheal separation surgery (LTS) and regarding the presence of a current or previous tracheostomy when LTS was performed. Retrospective analysis of 66 patients submitted to LTS. The tracheocutaneous fistula occurred in 14 (21.2%) patients. Twelve (33.3%) of 36 patients whose indication was therapeutic and in two (6.7%) of 30 patients whose indication was prophylactic (p = 0.019). It occurred in 8 (57.1%) of 14 patients who had undergone tracheostomy prior to completion of LTS, while occurred in 6 (11.5%) patients who had not previously undergone tracheostomy (n = 52) (p = 0.0009). The incidence of tracheocutaneous fistula as a postoperative complication of laryngotracheal separation is high and occurs mainly in patients whose indication is therapeutic and for those with a current or previous tracheostomy. Despite the significant incidence, most of them closed spontaneously through the adoption of conservative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, UFOP e Instituto Metropolitano de Ensino Superior, IMES, Ipatinga, Brazil. obzocratto@gmail.com
authors.forename: Orlando B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Zocratto
authors.forename: Keli B F
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Zocratto
authors.forename: Ana Y Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Geovane S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Luiza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D014139:Tracheostomy