[Laryngotracheal stenosis--etiology and therapeutic options].

Unlabelled: Laryngotracheal stenosis, although not very common, is an important medical condition that represents a true diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We present our experiences in treating 22 patients with laryngotracheal stenosis between 1995 and 2004 at Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Josip Bencević General Hospital in Slavonski Brod.

Patients And Methods: Stenosis was caused by trauma in 9 patients, by endotrauma due to intubation in 3, and by war penetrating injury caused by shell and mine fragments in 4 patients. Hypertrophic glottic stenosis, after supraglottic laryngectomy and postoperative radiotherapy caused laryngeal obstruction in 2 patients. Tumors caused stenosis in 11 patients: tumors of the thyroid with compression in 9, and malignant infiltration of the trachea in 2 patients. Glottic stenosis was present in 4, glottic and subglottic in 4, subglottic and tracheal in 2, isolated tracheal stenosis in 12 patients. Surgical treatment was performed in 14 patients: endoscopic in two and classic open procedure in 12 patients. Laryngeal and tracheal stents were inserted in 3 patients with inopeable thyroid tumor. All treated patients except one were extubated.

Results: Excellent functional results were achieved upon endoscopic resection, resection of stenosis and end-to-end anastomosis. Minimally invasive and good palliative treatment was achieved by the stent placement into the airway.