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Case Reports
. 2016 Mar;28(85):159-62.

Autologous Cricoid Cartilage as a Graft for Airway Reconstruction in an Emergent Technique - A Case Report

Farzad Izadi  1 , Reza Vaghardoost  2 , Vita Derakhshandeh  1 , Behnam Sobouti  3 , Yaser Ghavami  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Autologous Cricoid Cartilage as a Graft for Airway Reconstruction in an Emergent Technique - A Case Report

Farzad Izadi et al. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngotracheal stenosis can be caused after traumatic injuries to the neck from the subglottic larynx to the trachea. Patients with laryngotracheal stenosis often need a tracheotomy and occasionally may become tracheotomy dependent. Different procedures have been described for the management of these lesions. Management options include techniques of endoscopic dilation, laser resection, laryngo-fissure, and an innovative array of plastic reconstructions with or without the use of stents.

Case report: This paper presents airway reconstruction in a young patient with severe subglottic stenosis due to a blunt trauma to the neck, who was treated using particles of an autologous fractured cricoid cartilage as the source for airway augmentation. An incision was made in the anterior midline of the cricoid lamina and deepened through the scar tissue to the posterior cricoid lamina. Then two lateral incisions (right & left) were made in the cricoid lamina and fractured cartilage particles and the scar tissue were removed via these two lateral incisions. The mucosal lining at the right and left of the midline incision, after debulking, were sutured to a lateral position. Thereafter three cartilage particles were used to reconstruct the anterior cricoid lamina and augment the lumen.

Conclusion: It is worth to mention that an autologus cartilage graft can be used for certain cases with traumatic airway stenosis. Further follow up and more patients are needed to approve this method of reconstructive surgery in emergent situations.

Keywords: Airway trauma; Autologus Cricoid Cartilage; Reconstruction.

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Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Subglottic airway, pre-op CT scan, showing a distorted airway. Fractured Cricoid cartilage (arrow
Fig2
Fig2
Cricoid cartilage particles
Fig 3
Fig 3
Extracting the fractured cartilage
Fig 4
Fig 4
Stent is seen in the endolarynx, and the graft is to be placed in its final position
Fig 5
Fig 5
Post reconstructive subglottic airway
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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