Open airway surgery for post-COVID laryngotracheal stenosis

INTRODUCTION

This study reports our experience with open reconstructive surgery in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) following prolonged intubation and/or tracheostomy in the context of COVID-19.

METHODS

All patients underwent a preoperative endoscopic airway assessment. Posterior glottic lesions were graded according to the Bogdasarian classification, subglottic-tracheal lesions according to the Cotton-Myers classification and postoperative complications reported by the Clavien-Dindo classification. We report postoperative outcomes and functional results in this patient subset.

RESULTS

We include 14 patients diagnosed to have post COVID LTS, one female and 13 males. This group was compared with a control group, diagnosed with LTS following prolonged intubation. In the COVID group, mean age of patients at the time of the airway surgery was 52.1 ± 16.8 years (range: 13.7-76.3). More than half the patients were multi-morbid with hypertension and obesity being the most common conditions. Eleven patients had multi-site stenoses. Open surgical interventions performed were tracheal resection and anastomosis, laryngotracheal reconstruction and extended cricotracheal resection, and postoperative complications were seen in 12 (85.6%) patients. 70% patients with pre-existing tracheostomy were decannulated. Oral swallowing was not tolerated in one-fifth of the patients and a significant number of them have poor voice quality.

CONCLUSION

Post-COVID pandemic, airway surgeons are seeing an increased number of patients with complex LTS, and we report significant postoperative complications in this patient subset. Decannulation rates, voice and swallowing results are poor in patients with glottic involvement as compared to isolated tracheal stenosis.

[Postoperative monitoring after adenotonsillectomy of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

Tonsillotomy or tonsillectomy, with or without adenoidectomy, is one of the most frequently performed procedure in the pediatric population. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the main indications for these procedures. Respiratory problems following surgery are the most feared surgical complications. The criteria for identifying patients at risk of complications and the level of care required during monitoring remain controversial. This article reviews the literature on risk factors for respiratory complications. Recommendations for postoperative monitoring are proposed.