Comparative success of different graft types in pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) results from abnormal airway narrowing, primarily caused by iatrogenic injuries like prolonged intubation. It leads to respiratory distress and vocal complications, requiring interventions ranging from endoscopic procedures to open surgeries like laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) with autologous grafts. Pediatric patients pose unique challenges due to smaller airways but may have better healing outcomes. This review aims to synthesize evidence on the success and operative parameters of different grafts in pediatric LTR to guide clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: We retrieved relevant articles from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to August 2024. Two independent authors extracted data from eligible studies, including baseline information, success rate, need for extra procedures, time to stent removal, and time to decannulation. All analyses were undertaken using RevMan v5.4.

Results: We collected 1,201 records from four databases after excluding 788 duplicates. After screening titles and abstracts, 108 records were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 86 included articles. Of these, 64 had enough data for analysis. The overall success rate for LTR was 89% for costal grafts, 86% for thyroid grafts, and 85% for auricular grafts, with no significant differences between graft types. A third of cases required additional procedures. Time to stent removal averaged 7.85 days for single-stage LTR and 62.86 days for double-stage LTR. Decannulation took 198.29 days. Complications included respiratory issues like atelectasis and pneumonia, graft-related problems, infections, and wound complications. Donor site complications and deaths were rare but occurred due to respiratory arrest, pneumothorax, and tracheotomy tube obstruction.

Conclusion: Costal, thyroid, and auricular grafts are comparable and show similar success rates in pediatric LTR. Optimizing perioperative management is crucial for reducing complications. Future research should standardize postoperative care and address patient pathology heterogeneity to improve outcomes.