Laryngotracheal reconstruction without stenting

Many surgical procedures, including laryngotracheal expansion with or without grafting, have been suggested for repairing laryngotracheal stenosis in children, and although a variety of stents have been described, the practice of prolonged stenting continues to diminish. We describe 21 pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe subglottic or tracheal stenosis who had laryngotracheal reconstructions with anterior rib cartilage grafts without stenting or intubation. The patients were between 6 months and 7 years of age at the time of surgery. All patients were extubated in the operating room after the procedure was terminated. One patient required reintubation in the intensive care unit for 48 hours after surgery, and another patient required a tracheotomy. Wound infection occurred in one patient. Most patients were discharged to their homes 3 to 5 days after surgery. We report the indications, technique, results, and complications of laryngotracheal reconstruction using a rib graft without stenting.