Options for surgical treatment of cicatrical stenosis of the middle (folded) larynx

Aim of the study: to develop a tactic of surgical treatment of cicatrical lesion of the middle larynx depending on the localization and length of stenosis. Materials and methods: from 2014 to 2019, 43 patients with cicatrical stenosis of the folded larynx underwent surgery. The average age of the patients was 39 years and ranged from 18 to 78 years. Depending on the clinical situation, patients were divided into 4 groups, in which different methods of surgical treatment were applied – removal of scars of the middle larynx using CO2-laser and additional application of keel-shaped implant (n = 21), microflaps in the area of commissure (n = 10) and intraretynoid region (n = 4), endoprosthesis covered with xenopericord (n = 8). Results: in the postoperative period endoscopic examination of the larynx was carried out in dynamics during the period up to 1 year. Patients were examined daily while in hospital, then monthly. In addition to endoscopic examination, the study of voice function was carried out by the method of determining the time of maximum fonation. The estimation of respiratory and voice rehabilitation was carried out and stable positive effect was received in 90% in the first group, 70% - in the second, 75% - in the third, 75% – in the fourth. The obtained data allow to develop an individual approach to surgical treatment of cicatrical stenosis of the larynx depending on the localization and extent of cicatrical lesion. Discussion: the optimal method of treating cicatrical lesion of the middle larynx is to create conditions that prevent the contact of wound surfaces and their separation. For this purpose, methods that are individually addressed to the main clinical situations in this problem have been developed. In addition, the use of CO2-laser in the surgical treatment of cicatrical lesions of the middle larynx significantly expands operational capabilities due to high accuracy and low level of damage to surrounding tissues. Conclusions: in case of cicatrical lesion of the middle larynx up to 4 mm in length, in the absence of a tracheostoma an effective method of restoration of respiratory and vocal function of the larynx is the use of microflaps formed by microsurgery with th e help of CO2-laser; stenoses in the area of middle larynx commissure of more than 4 mm require additional stenting for the period of epithelization of the wound surface and remodeling of the scar, which is 3–4 weeks. In the presence of a tracheostoma in patients with prolonged stenosis of the middle laryngeal commissiure, an implant coated with xenopericardium and chlorhexidine ionic-covalent immobilization, which helps to avoid inflammatory changes during the period of stenting, has proved to be a good choice.