Treatment for adult idiopathic and Wegener-associated subglottic stenosis

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Mar;270(3):989-93. doi: 10.1007/s00405-012-2240-z. Epub 2012 Nov 7.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to present the results of combination treatment for adult non-traumatic subglottic stenosis (SGS). This is a retrospective chart review of 12 female patients (age range 32-76 years) with idiopathic SGS (eight patients) and Wegener's granulomatosis. All patients had a hard and 11 a short (less than 1 cm) stenosis. Eleven patients were treated with endoscopic CO(2) laser, one with Nd-YAG laser. Topical triamcinolone was applied to all. In 10 patients, topical mitomycin C (MMC) was additionally applied. Symptom severity and airway resistance (AR) were evaluated pre- and post-interventionally. Postoperatively, oral steroids (and/or methotrexate) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were prescribed. Follow-up period ranged between 7 and 115 months. All patients reported a significant improvement in obstructive symptoms. Average AR preoperatively was 1.004 kPa/(L/s) and postoperatively 0.526 kPa/(L/s). Three patients underwent surgery once, 2 required a second surgery, 5 were operated 3 times, one 5 times, and one 7 times. The latter two patients had not received local MMC treatment. Endoscopic laser surgery combined with local MMC and triamcinolone application and postoperative oral steroid/methotrexate and PPI therapy provides a treatment option that results in prolongation of the symptom-free time intervals and avoidance of open surgery in patients with idiopathic and Wegener-associated hard and short SGS.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / complications*
  • Humans
  • Laryngoscopy
  • Laryngostenosis / etiology
  • Laryngostenosis / therapy*
  • Laser Therapy*
  • Lasers, Gas / therapeutic use
  • Lasers, Solid-State / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitomycin / therapeutic use*
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Triamcinolone / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Triamcinolone
  • Mitomycin