Abstract
Purpose: In laryngotracheal separation (LTS) for intractable aspiration, we devised a novel technical innovation to the conventional Lindeman's operation. We herein introduce and report the results of this novel method.
Methods: The upper tracheal end was firmly closed in a conventional fashion. The lower end was kept in situ by minimizing the dissection as long as the seam to the skin was secured. Sufficient skin flap was made by dissecting the cranial skin at the subcutaneous level, and was then stitched closed with the lower tracheal end covering the closed upper tracheal end. A total of 12 patients underwent this procedure consecutively during the last four years. Intra- and post-operative results were retrospectively examined.
Results: The median age at operation was four years and seven months. They consisted of five boys and seven girls. Nine of them have already undergone tracheostomy. The average operative time was 99 +/– 31 minutes with limited blood loss. None had any intraoperative complication or anastomotic failure. During the average observation period of 26 months, there were no late complications such as anastomotic stricture and tracheoinnominate artery fistula.
Conclusion: These results indicate that our method was safe and less-invasive, and may serve as an alternative to the conventional LTS.
