Rare tracheal stenosis surgery performed at Chhattisgarh owned Ambedkar hospital; ENT, plastic surgery departments collaborate

RAIPUR: Doctors at state owned Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, attached to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur, have successfully performed a complex tracheoplasty with anterior tracheal wall reconstruction on a 36-year-old patient suffering from severe subglottic stenosis.

This rare and intricate surgery, involving a collaborative effort from the ENT, Plastic Surgery, and Radiodiagnosis departments, has given the patient a new lease on life.The patient, from Bilaspur, was first treated for ascending colon perforation at CIMS, Bilaspur, in September 2024. Around 15 days post-treatment, he developed breathing difficulties, necessitating a tracheostomy in September 2024. Although the tracheostomy tube was removed two months later and the stoma closed, the patient again experienced breathing problems and discomfort approximately 15 days after discharge. Investigations revealed tracheal stenosis, leading to his referral to Raipur Medical College.In Raipur, on 24 December 2024, a re-do tracheostomy was performed by Dr. Manya Roy to re-establish the airway. A CECT scan of the face and neck showed a 2.4 cm long tubular stricture in the patient's trachea with complete stenosis of 7 mm.Given the severity of the condition, a tracheoplasty with anterior tracheal wall reconstruction was performed on 16 May 2025.

The anterior wall of the trachea was reconstructed using septal cartilage from the patient's nose. This two-stage operation was carried out by a team including Dr Dakshesh Shah, HOD, Plastic Surgery, state owned DKS hospital, Dr. Varsha Mungutwar, Professor, ENT, Dr. Manya Roy, Associate Professor, ENT, Dr. Pronob, Assistant Professor, ENT, and Dr. Suman Das (PG).Following the surgery, the patient was re-examined on 26 May 2025, during which the oral ET tube was removed, nasal intubation was performed, and the wound was closed. The patient is now breathing normally without a tracheostomy, is in good health, and can communicate effectively, according to the hospital authorities.Subglottic stenosis is a complex and recurrent condition, often challenging to treat, with a risk of recurrence even after surgery. However, the patient has achieved complete relief following this surgery.