Multidisciplinary Approaches in Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation of Patients with Defects of Trachea Anterior Wall

Abstract

Introduction: Elimination of persistent and extensive defects of the anterior wall of the trachea is one of
the urgent problems and continues to be the subjects of researches and discussions of the thoracic surgeons,
plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists. The authors presented the results of treatment of 118 patients with
extensive defects of trachea in subglottic division of the larynx and soft tissues of the neck after laryngotracheostomy
or tracheostomy.
Materials and Method: The authors consider that the choice of the method of plastic surgery or reconstruction
of the tracheal defect is determined individually in each case. If the size of the defect of the trachea is up
to 2x4 cm, the sufficient depth of the trachea lumen corresponds to the lumen above and below the stoma,
the common axis of the trachea and the distal part of the larynx are without displacement and deformation
of the lumen, then a skin-muscle plasty of the defect with the substitution of local tissues is recommended.
Results: Local three-layer or four-layer skin-muscle plastic operations were performed in patients with
defect sizes from 1.0 sm to 2.0 sm wide and from 2.0 sm to 4.0 sm long, with a defect depth of more than
8 mm, i.e. anterior-posterior size of the tracheal lumen and a stable formed lumen of the respiratory tract in
the zone of plastic contraction without the presence of a protector (T-shaped stent or tracheostomy cannula).
Eleven patients with extensive defects of the anterior-lateral walls of the trachea and distal larynx underwent
complex reconstructive operations using microsurgical techniques.
Conclusion: The use of displaced flaps allows: to form a mucous membrane in the defect area without
tension of the lateral walls of the trachea (the first layer); to close the defect (or to cover the cartilaginous
implant) with a well blood-supplied second flap. A complex-compound prefabricated flap (Delta-pectoral
skin-fascial-cartilaginous flap) can be used in the presence of a persistent defect and formed tracheal lumen
at this level, without signs of restenosis of the respiratory tract, in the absence of inflammation and infection
of tissues around the defect. The skin-muscle-bone revascularized complexes of auto-tissues correspond all
the requirements of tracheal surgery, allowing to reduce the risk of infectious and trophic complications.