Tracheal changes in relation to different tracheostomy techniques. (An experimental study on rabbits).

An experimental study on rabbits was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the tracheostomy technique on the development of tracheal stenosis. An operation model was made for the purpose of excluding all pathogenetic factors in the formation of tracheal stenosis, except the surgical procedure. Five different operative methods were used: A. vertical incision, B. anterior wall flap, C. H-type incision, D. window-type excision, and E. subperichondreal enucleation of cartilage. The "cannulation" period was 7 days, and the animals were kept alive for another 140 days before postmortem examinations were undertaken. Minor macroscopical and microscopical changes were noted. The pathological findings were somewhat more pronounced in groups B, C and E than in the other groups. The tracheostomy technique apparently plays a minor role in the formation of tracheal stenosis.