Introduction
Tracheocutaneous fistula is a known complication in patients who are tracheostomised, for a long period. Apart from having all the associated comorbidities of tracheostomy, it is also cosmetically and socially unappealing. Primary closure, carries a high risk of complication like wound breakdown, surgical emphysema and pneumothorax.1, 2 We hereby describe one of the many surgical techniques for closure of persistent tracheocutaneous fistula, in two layers by using bilateral hinged turnover flap and a fasciocutaneous pivot flap over it.
Case Report
An 18-year-old girl presented in our department, with a history of being tracheostomised 2 years back for tracheal injury, following a road traffic accident. She gave history of multiple open and endoscopic procedures, being performed, at a different centre, for airway stenosis. The procedures achieved the patent airway, but the patient developed a tracheocutaneous fistula due to prolonged tracheostomy. On examination patient was mentally sound and obeyed all the commands. Physical examination revealed 2cm X 1 cm tracheocutaneous fistula, with well epithelized margins (Figure 1 A & B). Preoperative computed tomography confirmed the size of fistula to be 2cm X 1cm. Preoperative fibreoptic laryngoscopy showed there was no airway compromise superior, inferior or at the site of fistula.
The fistula was closed under general anaesthesia, using two hinged turnover flap and a fasciocutaneous pivot flap. The vertically aligned bilateral spindle shaped incision were made around the fistula (Figure 2A) and two full thickness skin hinge flaps were elevated on both right and left sides of the fistula. The hinge flaps were sutured with 3-0 vicryl after turning them inside (Figure 2B). Fasciocutaneous pivot flap was than elevated (Figure 3A) and rotated from the left side and sutured after transposition over the hinged flaps (Figure 3B). Finally, skin was closed using silk sutures (Figure 4). Patient was extubated and postoperative period was uneventful with no surgical emphysema indicating a good seal.
Figure 1
Preoperative clinical pictureshowing vertical length of fistula segment to be 2cm (1A) and showing horizontal width of fistula segment to be 1cm (1B).
Figure 2
Intraoperative clinical picture showing vertical spindle incision, raising full thickness skin flap (2A) and inverting the hinged flap with suture (2B).
Discussion
Persistent tracheocutaneous fistula is common following prolonged cannulation or multiple tracheostomies. It is noted that, fifty percent of patients cannulated for more than a year with tracheostomy develop persistent tracheocutaneous fistulas. This happens, because with prolonged cannulation epithelium grows inwards within stoma and forms persistent non healing stoma.
Many techniques have been described in literature for closure of tracheocutaneous flap.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 These procedures include multiple layered primary closure (most common type), bipedicle delayed flap closure, closure by using conchal cartilage for trachea closure and use of myocutaneous flaps, hinged turnover flaps with an advancement flap, with an additional V-Y technique.2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
All the above-mentioned procedure has there on limitations. Primary closure in layers is associated with complication like tracheocele, pneumopericardium, pneumothorax.10, 11, 12 Using hinge flaps allows tracheal lumen to be lined with skin but using it alone has potential disadvantage of flaps giving away by a sudden strong blast of air leading to recurrence.
Using an advancement flap like fasciocutaneous flap has an added advantage of being robust and also suturing lines of fistula and flap are not in parallel avoiding recurrence of fistula.
