2004 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 145-148
This report presents two of our successful cases of laryngotracheal reconstructions that followed thyroid cancer operations. The reconstruction procedure was accomplished using a composite nasal septal cartilage graft.
The advantages of this kind of graft for laryngotracheal reconstruction, in comparison with other cartilage grafts, are as follows : a) nasal septal cartilage is more easily harvested; b) the morbidity of the donor site is lower; and c) the ciliated columnar epithelium of the nasal mucosa is more suitable for the tracheal lining. The nasal septal cartilage with the unilateral mucoperichondrium appears to be one of the most compatible grafting materials for laryngotracheal reconstruction surgery in selected cases treated for thyroid carcinoma that required resection of the involved trachea (ranging from one-third to two-thirds of the circumferential trachea). We concluded that this technique should be considered for cases of laryngotracheal reconstruction made necessary due to tissue removal for treatment of thyroid carcinoma.
