title: Posterior cricoid split with costal cartilage augmentation for high subglottic stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stenosis of the upper subglottis presents special problems. Its vicinity to the vocal folds leads to a high incidence of vocal fold fixation, and also precludes surgical treatment by cricotracheal resection and anastomosis
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience with posterior cricoid split and insertion of free costal cartilage graft in the treatment of high subglottic stenosis and posterior commissure glottic stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four cases with Grade III/ IV high subglottic stenosis/ posterior commissure glottic webbing recalcitrant to previous surgical therapy treated with posterior cricoid split and insertion of free costal cartilage graft by a laryngo-fissure approach. Temporary airway stenting for 4 months post surgery with a silicone T-Tube.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful restoration of the airway and decannulation in all 4 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grade III or IV stenosis of the upper half of the subglottis is successfully treated in a high proportion of patients with posterior cricoid split and augmentation with costal cartilage free graft.
authors.affiliation: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110 029 India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Sikka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakar
keywords: Cricoid Cartilage; Graft; Stenosis