Chronic subglottic stenosis.

Severe subglottic stenosis or stenosis that persists after a number of repairs have failed can be treated by an operation to widen the entire cricoid. This is accomplished by splitting the cricoid arch anteriorly and the posterior cricoid lamina posteriorly, both in the vertical midline. These vertical splits are held apart by using thyroid laminae cartilage grafts with periosteum intact on both sides. The posterior cricoid lamina split is covered by using muscle fascia or buccal mucous membrane. The subglottis is stented with a silicone conforming laryngeal stent or a silicone tracheal T tube.