Resumen Introducción. La causa más común de estenosis laringotraqueal benigna es iatrogénica, secundaria a intubación orotraqueal. El manejo quirúrgico sigue siendo la alternativa que ha mostrado mejores resultados a largo plazo. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la experiencia en el manejo quirúrgico de la estenosis laringotraqueal durante 15 años en un hospital de alta complejidad en Colombia. Métodos. En este estudio se revisaron las historias clínicas de todos los pacientes tratados con reconstrucción de estenosis traqueal benigna, entre los años 2005 y 2020. Para el análisis estadístico se usaron métodos de estadística descriptiva, con análisis de frecuencias y medidas de tendencia central o de dispersión. Resultados. Se identificaron 38 pacientes con estenosis laringotraqueal, con un grado variable de estenosis. La nasofibrolaringoscopia fue bien tolerada y segura para determinar el grado y la longitud de la estenosis. El uso de tomografía sirvió para determinar la extensión y las características anatómicas. Los resultados del presente estudio son similares a los de la literatura en cuanto a complicaciones, mortalidad y falla de la anastomosis. Las complicaciones más frecuentemente reportadas son reestenosis, infección del sitio operatorio, lesión nerviosa y fístula, que en general se presentan en un tercio de los pacientes. Conclusiones. La experiencia de manejo quirúrgico de estenosis laringotraqueal en este hospital permite concluir que la reconstrucción traqueal es una opción segura en nuestro medio. Las tasas de éxito y de falla del tratamiento son equiparables a las reportadas en la literatura.

Abstract Introduction. The most common cause of benign laryngotracheal stenosis is iatrogenic, secondary to orotracheal intubation. Surgical management continues to be the alternative that has shown better long-term results. The objective of this study was to analyze the experience in the surgical management of laryngotracheal stenosis for 15 years in a high-level complexity hospital in Colombia. Methods. Medical records of patients treated with reconstruction of benign tracheal stenosis between 2005 and 2020 were reviewed. Descriptive statistical methods were used, with frequency analysis and measures of central tendency or dispersion. Results. Thirthy-eight patients with laryngotracheal stenosis were identified, with a variable degree of stenosis. Nasofibrolaryngoscopy was well tolerated and safe to determine the degree and length of the stenosis. The use of tomography served to determine the extension and anatomical characteristics. The results of the present study are similar to those of the literature in terms of complications, mortality and failure of the anastomosis. The most frequently reported complications are restenosis, surgical site infection, nerve injury, and fistula, which generally occur in one third of patients. Conclusions. The experience of surgical management of laryngotracheal stenosis in our hospital allows us to conclude that tracheal reconstruction is a safe option in our environment. Treatment success and failure rates are comparable to those reported in the literature.

In July 2007 in Medellín, Colombia, 1 200 health care professionals were asked to complete a questionnaire: of the 493 who participated, the mean age was 31.2 years; 58.8% were physicians; and 97.6% had Internet access, 60.5% on a daily basis and 27.7%, weekly. The preferred place to access the Internet was from home (58%) or from the work place (12.5%); 98% reported having a cell phone, and of those, 80% were interested in using health education tools via cell phone. These are the first data published regarding Internet and cellular phone penetration among health care workers in Colombia. Acceptance of the Internet and mobile systems as health information tools is gaining, and as such, creating a new opportunity for training and harnessing of these new technologies.