The Massachusetts General Hospital Thoracic Surgery Division is the leading center for airway, or tracheal, surgery in the world. 

Historical Contributions; Cutting Edge

Dr. Hermes Grillo, former chief of thoracic surgery at MGH, has been called by some the father of tracheal surgery.  His contributions to this area were numerous, and involve virtually every aspect of tracheal surgery. 

This legacy has been continued with patients coming to Mass General Hospital from all over the world. 

Types of Airway / Tracheal Surgery

We currently evaluate over 100 patients a year for airway disease, and operate on about 75 patients each year.  Airway surgery runs the gamut from complex cervical exenteration for diseases involving the upper airway and esophagus to distal sleeve resections of the main bronchi. 

Primary tumors involving the main stem bronchi are amenable to a surgical procedure known as “sleeve resection” or to other bronchoplastic techniques.  We have among the largest experience in the world in primary removal and reconstruction of tumors involving the main stem bronchi, both benign and malignant.

Many of these techniques have been developed or refined in our Division of Thoracic Surgery. 

Airway / Tracheal Surgery Specialties

• Post-intubation Tracheal Stenosis
• Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis
• Tracheal Tumors
• Tracheoesophageal Fistulas
• Pediatric Airway Surgery
• Tumors that Involve the Carina
• Secondary Tumors Involving the Trachea
• Palliative Therapy

Tracheal Incisions

Collar incision is basic. For low lesions, the upper sternal incision is added. Laryngeal release is performed through a short incision overlying the hyoid bone, which is in the neck, supports the tongue, and is the attachment point for several muscles.