Prevention and Management of Complications Following Tracheal Resection.

Overview

Careful patient selection and preparation are paramount to optimize outcomes following tracheal resection. Risk factors for postoperative anastomotic complications include age less than 17 years, reoperation, laryngeal involvement, diabetes, increased length of resection, and need for preoperative tracheostomy. Major complications involve the anastomosis and are associated with an increased risk of mortality. Complications range from granulation tissue formation to stricture to separation, and successful management typically requires reoperation, T-tube stenting, or tracheostomy. Other complications to consider include vocal cord edema, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, esophageal injury, wound infection, swallowing dysfunction, aspiration pneumonia, and fistula to the esophagus or innominate artery.