[Our experience in the surgical treatment of tracheal diseases].
A case control study is presented reviewing the outcomes of 32 consecutive major tracheal surgeries. The audit is based on our six and half year experience. There were 11 (neo)esophageal communications, 9 direct injuries (iatrogenic and trauma), 8 endotracheal obstructions and 4 inflammatory processes requiring surgical intervention. Six sutures of the trachea, 13 resections with anastomosis, 2 external fixations and 11 combined esophagotracheal procedures were performed. The 30-day mortality was 12.5% (4/32) with a dominance of the inflammatory cases. The overall mortality was 21.8% due to the late complications of the surgeries for esophagotracheal sinuses. There was no death. Independent factors influencing outcome seemed to be: underlying pathology of the trachea, timing of intervention, nutritional state of the patient, and surgical technique. Tracheal replacement can be considered the key element of further process in this field of thoracic surgery.