Long-term T-tube stenting as definitive treatment of severe acquired subglottic stenosis in children

PurposeWe analyzed our results of long-term T-tube stenting for severe acquired subglottic stenosis secondary to prolonged endotracheal intubation in a neonatal period.Materials and methodsTwenty children treated with T-tube stenting since 1999 were retrospectively analyzed. T-tube stenting consisted of anterior cricoid split and placing silicon T-tube as a stent for expanded subglottic lumen.ResultsFourteen of 20 patients were treated as an initial operation and 6 patients as an additional operation after other failed procedures. Decannulation was achieved in 8 (57.1%) of 14 children in the initial operation group and in 4 (66.7%) of 6 patients in the additional operation group. The average duration of T-tube stenting was 16.1 months in the initial group and 65.8 months in the additional group. Four of 20 patients continued to require T-tube stenting. In the other 4 patients, T-tubes were switched to tracheostomy tubes. The voice quality improved gradually after decannulation.ConclusionT-tube stenting for severe acquired subglottic stenosis is recommended as a best available treatment in postoperative quality of life. T-tube stenting should be performed as the initial treatment because the time to decannulation was shorter than as an additional operation.