Surgeons Describe Partial Cricotracheal Resection (CTR)

Airway surgeons describe partial cricotracheal resection. Partial cricotracheal resection is for patients who have a short section of scarring at the level of the cricoid and the tracheal segment immediately below it. This complex surgery involves removing a scarred portion of the airway and reconnecting the healthy ends.

Transcript

Surgeons Describe Partial Cricotracheal Resection (CTR)

Ian N. Jacobs, MD: Potential surgery we may do for the more advanced cases of stenosis is known as cricotracheal resection, or CTR. 

Karen B. Zur, MD: The cricotracheal resection is when you're actually removing a diseased portion of the airway and then reconnecting two healthy portions.

Ian N. Jacobs, MD: That involves cutting out the scarred portion of the airway or the larynx and moving up normal trachea to replace it.

Karen B. Zur, MD: So we have to make sure before committing to performing a cricotracheal resection that we have enough space below the vocal cords to accommodate that suturing of the trachea to the voice box.

Ian N. Jacobs, MD: It's a more involved operation, which is not done as commonly as LTR. But it can treat the most severe cases of subglottic stenosis and tracheal stenosis with outstanding results.

Related Centers and Programs: Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders