title: Management of Severe and Complex Hypopharyngeal and/or Laryngotracheal Stenoses by Various Open Surgical Procedures: A Retrospective Study of Seventeen Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically study various surgical approaches for treating complex hypopharyngeal and/or laryngotracheal stenoses at a variety of sites and levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the treatment of 17 patients with severe and complex hypopharyngeal and/or laryngotracheal stenosis at various sites and levels of severity. All of the 17 patients initially had a tracheostomy. Thirteen had failed the previous laser lysis and/or dilation treatment. Given the high severity and complexity of stenosis, all of these patients were treated by open surgical reconstruction techniques using repairing grafts (flaps), followed by stenting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen of 17 patients had successful decannulation 1-8 months post-operation and had stable airway and adequate vocal and swallow function. Two patients with complex hypopharyngeal and esophageal stenosis had unsuccessful decannulation. Follow-up was lost in 1 patient with complex hypopharyngeal and esophageal stenosis and 1 patient with original hypopharyngeal stenosis and recurrent thoracotracheal stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the failure by the regular treatments using laser lysis and/or dilation therapy, severe and complex hypopharyngeal and/or laryngotracheal stenosis may be successfully treated by variable open surgical reconstruction techniques using different grafts (flaps) depending on the site and severity of the stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Wenxian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yongzhu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058753:Laryngoplasty / Q000379:methods; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult