Prevention and treatment of complications and sequelae of tracheal resection anastomosis.

Deaths following tracheal resection anastomosis for tumoral or iatrogenic disease have become fairly rare (four deaths in 122 cases in our experience). Complications can usually be prevented or treated successfully. The most common of these were: infectious lesions of the operated area (6 cases), infection of the tracheal anastomosis with subsequent disruption (1 case), erosion of the innominate artery (no case), granulomatous lesions and recurrence of stenosis (3 cases). The risk of complications can be greatly reduced by meticulous preparation, both anti-infectious and anti-inflammatory, which is always possible even in cases of acute respiratory deficiency. The use of non-sclerogenic sutures is also important.