Journals / Hitit Medical Journal / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

Surgical Treatment Outcomes and Complications in Postintubation Tracheal Stenosis: A Single-center Retrospective Study

Postentübasyon Trakeal Stenozda Cerrahi Tedavi Sonuçları ve Komplikasyonlar: Tek Merkez Retrospektif Bir Çalışma

Kübra Nur Kılıç(Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Göğüs Cerrahi AD)0000-0002-8867-0839
Omer Topaloglu(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Göğüs Cerrahi AD)0000-0001-5652-6018
Buket Kaytaz Alkaş(Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Göğüs Cerrahi AD)0009-0008-6575-6876
Sami Karapolat(Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Göğüs Cerrahi AD)0000-0001-8309-5348
Pages
415–425
Publication Date
2026-06-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In experienced centers, a multidisciplinary approach and meticulously performed anastomotic techniques are the key factors determining success.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: Post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) is the most common cause of benign tracheal stenosis and develops secondary to prolonged intubation or tracheostomy.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients who underwent tracheal resection and reconstruction for PITS between January 2014–October 2025 were retrospectively evaluated.
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Conclusion & Impact:In experienced centers, a multidisciplinary approach and meticulously performed anastomotic techniques are the key factors determining success.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2014 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Post-entübasyon Trakeal Stenoz · Trakeal Rezeksiyon ve Rekonstrüksiyon · Trakeal Retansiyon Sütürleri

Abstract

Objective: Post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) is the most common cause of benign tracheal stenosis and develops secondary to prolonged intubation or tracheostomy. This study aimed to present the treatment outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for PITS in our clinic, in light of the existing literature. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients who underwent tracheal resection and reconstruction for PITS between January 2014–October 2025 were retrospectively evaluated. The demographic characteristics of the patients, clinical findings, features of the tracheal stenosis region, surgical approach, complications, and the need for postoperative additional treatments were analyzed statistically. Results: Forty-five (68%) of the patients were male, and in 86% of the cases, the stenotic segment was located in the upper half of the trachea. The most common surgical approach was the collar incision (91%). Cases operated on during the years 2021–2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic was most intense, constituted 36% of all cases. In the study, chin-to-sternum sutures were not used for anastomotic stabilization; instead, tracheal retention sutures were preferred. The complication rate was determined as 34.8%, and the length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients who developed complications (p=0.002). Although the presence of a preoperative tracheostomy increased the rate of postoperative complications, it did not show statistical significance (OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 0.87–9.98; p=0.083). Conclusion: This study shows that PITS is an important clinical problem that is increasingly observed as a result of prolonged intubation and factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tracheal resection and reconstruction is an effective method with acceptable morbidity in the treatment of PITS. In experienced centers, a multidisciplinary approach and meticulously performed anastomotic techniques are the key factors determining success.

Özet

Amaç: Postentübasyon trakeal stenoz (PETS), benign trakeal stenozların en sık görülen nedenidir ve uzamış entübasyon veya trakeostomiye bağlı gelişir. Bu çalışmada, kliniğimizde PETS nedeniyle cerrahi uygulanan olguların tedavi sonuçlarının literatür verileri eşliğinde sunulması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Ocak 2014–Ekim 2025 arasında PETS nedeniyle trakeal rezeksiyon ve rekonstrüksiyon uygulanan 66 hasta retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Olguların demografik özellikleri, klinik bulguları, trakeal stenoz bölgesinin özellikleri, cerrahi yaklaşım şekli, komplikasyonlar ve postoperatif ek tedavi gereksinimi istatistiksel çalışmalar altında analiz edildi. Bulgular: Olguların 45’i (%68) erkekti ve %86’sında stenoz alanı trakeanın üst yarısında yer alıyordu. En sık cerrahi yaklaşım collar insizyondu (%91). COVID-19 pandemisinin yoğun görüldüğü 2021–2022 yıllarında opere edilen olgular tüm olguların %36’sını içermekteydi. Çalışmada anastomoz stabilizasyonu için çene-sternum sütürü kullanılmadı, bunun yerine trakeal retansiyon sütürü tercih edildi. Komplikasyon oranı %34.8 olarak saptandı ve komplikasyon gelişen hastalarda hastanede yatış süresi anlamlı olarak daha uzundu (p=0.002). Preoperatif trakeostomi varlığı postoperatif komplikasyon oranını artırsa da bu sonuç istatistiksel anlamlılık göstermedi (OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 0.87–9.98; p=0.083). Sonuç: Bu çalışma, PETS’in uzun süreli entübasyon ve COVID-19 pandemisiyle ilişkili faktörler sonucu artan önemli bir klinik sorun olduğunu göstermektedir. Trakeal rezeksiyon ve rekonstrüksiyon, PETS tedavisinde Kabul edilebilir morbidite ile etkili bir yöntemdir. Deneyimli merkezlerde multidisipliner yaklaşım altında ve özenli uygulanacak anastomoz teknikleri başarıyı belirleyen temel faktörlerdir.

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Cite This Article

Kılıç, K. N., Topaloglu, O., Alkaş, B. K., Karapolat, S. (2026). Surgical Treatment Outcomes and Complications in Postintubation Tracheal Stenosis: A Single-center Retrospective Study. Hitit Medical Journal, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 415–425. https://doi.org/10.52827/hititmedj.1881737

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