Finding balance between minimally invasive surgery and laryngotracheal resection in the management of adult laryngotracheal stenosis

Management of adult laryngotracheal stenosis is complex and several treatment options are known. The present study focuses on finding the right balance between minimally invasive surgery and laryngotracheal resection by reviewing a single institution’s experiences. Retrospective analysis was performed of all adult and adolescent patients with laryngotracheal stenosis who underwent treatment in a tertiary referral center, between 1990 and 2012. Age, gender, etiology, treatment, recurrence, pre- and post-operative peak flow (PF), and pre- and post-treatment subjective complain scores (SCS) were registered. 87 patients with 267 interventions were analyzed. There were 238 dilatation tracheoscopies, 22 open surgeries and various other endoscopic procedures registered. Idiopathic stenoses required the most dilatation tracheoscopies, while post-tracheotomy stenoses required the least. Patients in the post-intubation and post-tracheotomy groups were significantly more often treated with open surgery compared to those in the granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and idiopathic groups. The gain in PF flow after dilatation tracheoscopy was significantly higher in the idiopathic group compared to the other groups. The median SCS of dyspnoea decreased in the whole population, while other SCS did not change remarkably. Repeated endoscopic procedures are recommended in patients with severe systemic disease which do not allow open surgery or when other comorbidities contraindicate open surgery. Open surgery very often offers the definitive solution in the treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis and cannot be avoided when the laryngeal or the tracheal framework is damaged. Patients′ personal preferences have to be considered in the pre-operative assessment process.