A novel approach to excision of distal tracheal granulation tissue in tracheostomy patients with difficult anatomy.

Tracheostomy predisposes patients to various complications. The most common late complication is granuloma formation; others include tracheal stenosis, bleeding, infection, and fistula development. Small granulomas may not require treatment, but large ones necessitate removal to prevent bleeding, obstruction, respiratory distress and, in rare cases, death. Various treatment options have been described, but no single modality has proved to be superior. We describe a novel approach to treating substomal tracheal granulation by using trans-stomal Coblation for patients whose granulation is difficult to visualize. This procedure offers several advantages over other means, including better hemostasis, less risk of distal tissue loss, ease of use, and potentially less operative time.