The trachea is a large airway that starts at the mouth and ends in the lungs.
When we breathe in, air is drawn into the lungs, further expanding and lengthening the airway. If we have an unhealthy airway, it can narrow during breathing.
Some of the causes of narrowing or blockage of the trachea are as follows;
- Congenital disabilities
- Inflammation
- Trauma
- Tumor
What are the Types of Tracheal Stenosis?
There are two reasons for tracheal stenosis. These are:
- Tracheal stenosis and
- tracheomalacia.
Because of tracheal stenosis, it gets difficult to breathe into the lungs. The degree of tracheal stenosis can range from mild to severe.
A tracheostomy tube should be placed in the occluded area so that patients with severe tracheal stenosis can breathe.
What are the Causes of Tracheal Stenosis?
The most common causes of tracheal stenosis include:
- Neck injury
- Tracheal mass
- Infection
- Edema
Tracheal stenosis can also be caused by:
- Autoimmune disorders
- External injury to the chest or throat (Trauma)
- Infections (such as tuberculosis)
- Radiation therapy
- Thermal burns/caustic injuries
- Mass pressure on the trachea
What are the Symptoms of Tracheal Stenosis?
If the stenosis is mild or congenital, symptoms may not be evident until later.
You may feel wheezing when breathing, and the following symptoms may occur in more severe cases.
- A high-pitched breathing sound
- feeling extremely short of breath
- Wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, especially difficulty breathing
- A high-pitched squeaking voice from lungs during inspiration
- Frequent pneumonia or upper respiratory tract infections
- Asthma that is responseless to treatment
- Chest congestion
- Breathing with pauses, apnea
- The blue color of the skin or mucous membranes
- Shortness of breath during exercise and sometimes at rest
- Cough
- A feeling of "stuck" mucus in the airway
- Choking or difficulty breathing while eating
It is more difficult to understand if the stenosis is due to injury. Symptoms of stenosis caused by injury appear a few weeks after injury. Patients with tracheal stenosis can be asymptomatic sometimes. Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms.
Mild Symptoms
The patient may need to see the doctor regularly if symptoms are mild.
Moderate to Severe Symptoms
Dilatation of the airway is necessary for moderate or severe stenosis, and surgery is needed. Breathing will be easier after the surgery.
Other possible procedures include:
- Endoscopic surgery is preferred in people with mild to moderate tracheal stenosis. Narrow spaces are divided and expanded using a camera and specially designed balloons.
- Cricotracheal resection removes narrow portions of the trachea. This surgery can be performed as a single or multiple procedures.
- Slide tracheoplasty is an operation in which the trachea is opened from the front and back. It cuts the trachea but makes it much wider.
What are the Treatment Methods for Tracheal Stenosis?
As a result of the treatment, the size of the airways expands, and the patient's breathing becomes more manageable.
Treatment options for tracheal strictures may include:
- Chest physical therapy: Non-invasive techniques used to expectorate mucus, including tapping the chest and deep breathing exercises.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): Provided through a face mask, lightly pressurized air forces enable the trachea to remain open during breathing.
- Tracheal resection and reconstruction: After the injured, drooping part of the trachea is removed, the remaining ends of the trachea are rejoined.
- Tracheoplasty: is a surgical procedure that supports the trachea and prevents it from collapsing during breathing.
- Tracheostomy: We make An incision in the trachea, and a tube is inserted into the airway to relieve the obstruction that occurs while breathing.
How is Tracheal Stenosis Diagnosed?
Medical history and physical examination are essential. The following methods are used to diagnose the stenosis of the trachea.
Bronchoscopy: It is a method that examines the trachea and bronchi with a lightning tube inserted into the trachea. This method helps the doctor for a definitive diagnosis and measure the length of the abnormal airway segment.
Chest X-ray: A series of images taken from different angles and depths of the body to reveal the narrowing of the trachea.
Dynamic 3D Chest CT scans: Provides a more detailed view of the area of tracheal strictures. It is a weak method performed while inhaling and exhaling.
Lung Function Tests: Evaluate the function and strength of the lungs.