Microsurgery of chronic post-intubation laryngeal stenosis using a CO₂-laser

Introduction. Despite significant progress achieved in the surgical treatment of cicatricial laryngeal stenosis and cervical trachea in recent decades, this issue appears relevant, especially among people of young and working age.

Aim of the study: To develop tactics for surgical treatment of post-intubation laryngeal stenosis using a CO₂-laser.

Materials and methods: During the period from 2015 to 2019, surgical treatment was performed for 105 patients with post-intubation cicatricial stenosis of the larynx using microsurgical techniques and a CO₂-laser, provided that the cartilage frame of the larynx was preserved, which was determined in a preoperative examination.

Results and discussion: In the postoperative period, patients were monitored from 6 months to 3 years. Localization of cicatricial post-intubation laryngeal stenosis in the vestibular region is quite rare. According to the results of the study, achievement of a stable functional result was obtained in 20 (84%) of 24 patients with lesions of the vocal section of the larynx, in one case a cicatricial membrane of this section of the larynx was required to be excised after one year, and laryngoplasty with extra laryngeal access in four cases. Post-intubation stenosis of sub-folded localization is most widespread, and in our observations they amounted to 79%. The use of endolaryngeal access using a CO₂-laser made it possible to achieve a good functional result in 66% of cases, reconstruction of the larynx by extra-laryngeal access was required in 33%, and laryngotracheal resection in 1%.

Conclusion: It is shown that the use of a CO₂-laser in the surgical treatment of chronic post-intubation laryngeal stenosis significantly expands operational capabilities due to the high accuracy and low level of damage to surrounding tissues. This method allows the formation of minimal wound surfaces by submucosal excision of scar tissue and makes it possible to cover the wound with microlosks of the mucous membrane, reducing the time of epithelization in the intervention area, which is an important prevention of repeated stenosis. In the surgical treatment of extended stenosis of the middle part of the larynx, there are prerequisites for repeated wound replacement with scar tissue, which in our observations was avoided by using endoprostheses. The defeat of the sub-follicular part of the larynx is prone to restenosis even in the absence of data for the defeat of the cartilaginous framework of the larynx.

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