title: Anastomotic stenotic complications after tracheal resections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of anastomotic stenosis after tracheal resections is not well established. We aimed to share our experience with the management of this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a single-institution, retrospective study of prospectively recorded files of patients who suffered from anastomotic stenosis after tracheal resections. Data were analyzed according to the symptoms, location, length of the stenotic segments, and interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anastomotic "restenosis" developed in 6 of 42 patients who had tracheal resections at our institute; and 6 patients were referred to us after restenosis of the initial resection performed elsewhere. Nine patients were admitted with the symptoms of dyspnea and stridor, 2 patients with surgical tracheostomy applied after unconsciousness, and 1 patient with a Montgomery T Tube (MTT). We treated 8 patients successfully with dilatation and therapeutic bronchoscopy including stent placement and re-resection. Four patients were palliated with MTT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the patient number was too small to draw any conclusions, we would like to stress that the MTT is still an acceptable option when therapeutic bronchoscopy fails and re-resection is technically not possible.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Pneumology †Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erelel
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toker