Protocol for management of the interposition cartilage graft laryngotracheoplasty.

This report presents the results of laryngotracheoplasty surgery using both the Evans and Cotton techniques on 27 children with congenital or acquired subglottic stenosis. Failure to obtain early decannulation after surgery has resulted in the formulation of a new protocol for the operative and postoperative management of infants undergoing cartilage graft tracheoplasty. Excision and closure of the tracheostoma at surgery, with postoperative nasoendotracheal intubation providing the necessary support for the graft, now has reduced this period to approximately 2 weeks. A series of six infants for whom this protocol was followed is presented.