The History of Tracheal Surgery

Tracheal surgery, which did not exist in a coherent, systematic fashion 45 years ago, has developed techniques that allow resection of approximately half of the adult trachea with primary reconstruction, largely by anatomic mobilization procedures. Dependable methods have also been developed for laryngotracheal and carinal resection and reconstruction. The daunting problem of long congenital tracheal stenosis appears to be largely solved by slide tracheoplasty. In the past four decades much has also been learned about the etiology, natural history, pathology, and (in some cases) prevention of tracheal diseases including primary and secondary tumors, postintubation injuries, and idiopathic stenosis.