Is T-tube treatment effective in Meyer-Cotton grade 3 tracheal stenosis: long-term outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To present retrospective experience in Meyer-Cotton grade 3 tracheal stenosis of 17 patients treated by T-tube, considering the characteristics of the treated stenosis, surgical procedures performed, and post-operative outcomes and complications.


METHODS
All demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively. Chest and neck computed tomography scans were performed to assess the stenosis, including length, location, and glottic involvement. The stenotic area was evaluated endoscopically according to an adapted Meyer and Cotton grading scale.


RESULTS
The aetiology of the tracheal stenosis was intubation-related in all cases. The duration of intubation ranged between 1 hour to 40 days. According to the Myers-Cotton classification, all patients were at stage 3. Mean length of the stenosis was 26.58 ± 12.02 (range =15-70) mm. Mean follow-up for the study group was 60.16 ± 34.10 (range =18-137) months. Two patients died during follow-up, one due to stroke, one due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia; no deaths were attributable to TS. The remaining 15 patients could be evaluated up to the present time. Post-operative decannulation was achieved in three of 15 patients (20%), and decannulation was not achieved in 12 of 15 patients (80%).


CONCLUSIONS
T-tube is not an effective treatment of tracheal stenosis.
a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey ;
Yilmaz
Y
Ozkul
a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey ;
Murat
M
Songu
a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey ;
Sedat
S
Ozturkcan
a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey ;
Abdulkadir
A
Imre
b Department of Radiology , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey ;
Nezahat
N
Erdogan
a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey ;
Duzgun
D
Ates
c Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation , Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey.
Zelal
Z
Ozkul
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult
T-tube; Tracheal stenosis