Improvement of tracheal flap method for laryngotracheal separation.

Objectives/hypothesis: Recurrent pneumonia due to intractable aspiration is a life-threatening disease. A tracheal flap method for children without previous tracheostomy has been previously reported. This study reports that improvements of this method and its three subtypes are widely applicable to patients with various conditions.

Study Design: Surgical technique study.

Methods: The tracheal flap method does not involve transection of the trachea but achieves laryngotracheal separation using the tracheal, mucoperichondrial, and sternohyoid muscle, along with anterior cervical skin flaps. This method can be divided into three subtypes as follows: A-type, utilizing the tracheal flap (for patients without previous tracheostomy); B-type, utilizing the mucoperichondrial and sternohyoid muscle flaps (for patients lacking an anterior tracheal wall); and C-type, utilizing the esophageal flap (for patients with severe hypersalivation). In all three subtypes, the anterior cervical skin flap is employed.

Results: The tracheal flap method was performed in 30 patients (24 children and six adults) at risk of developing intractable aspiration pneumonia. In all 30 cases, aspiration pneumonia was prevented without severe complications. No fistula formation was observed.

Conclusions: All three subtypes (A-, B-, and C-type) of the tracheal flap method are effective in preventing the recurrence of aspiration pneumonia. This method is applicable to diverse patient backgrounds regardless of age or previous tracheostomy. It is less invasive than Lindeman procedure. Furthermore, this method is acceptable to patients' families and improves the QOL of both patients and caregivers.