Results of the Azizkhan procedure for long-term suprastomal tracheomalacia.

One of the reasons of failure to decannulate patients after airway surgery or long-term tracheostomy is suprastomal tracheomalacia. We present 7 cases with long-term tracheostomies treated by an anterior cricoid suspension described by Azizkhan in 1993. Prior to surgery, other causes of airway obstruction, as well as the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease should be ruled out. All of them are decannulated. This procedure is a safe surgical technique, easily reproducible and with low costs.