Reconstruction of a Complex Posterior Tracheal Wall Defect via Transtracheal Running Suture and Pedicled Pectoralis Major Muscle Flap.

Introduction: A tracheal membranous injury is a known complication of tracheostomy. After esophageal resection, such injury may prove fatal. No natural buttressing of the lesion occurs, and severe sepsis and mediastinitis may occur. In these situations, a circumferential tracheal resection is the treatment of choice, sometimes on cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the outcome is not always favorable.

Case presentation: We report a case of a long tracheal membranous wall defect (> 7cm) after esophageal resection. We successfully performed a transtracheal direct repair of the defect through a partial sternotomy, and reconstructed the ventrolateral wall with a muscle flap using the right pectoralis major muscle.

Conclusion: Tracheal reconstruction through a T-shaped incision and anastomotic buttressing using a pectoralis major muscle flap could prove to be useful when reconstructing a posterior tracheal wall injury, especially after esophageal resection.