The compromised airway: tumors, strictures, and tracheomalacia.
Airway obstruction caused by intrinsic laryngeal and tracheal disorders requires a systematic diagnostic approach, including a careful bronchoscopic examination. Tumors of the upper airway are most often malignant; except for the larynx, metastatic lesions predominate. Among the inflammatory strictures, intubation injuries remain common in developed countries. Tracheomalacia related to chronic obstructive lung disease causes high-grade, chronic, long-segment airway obstruction. The surgical treatment for each group of these disorders is described.
Division of Thoracic and Laryngeal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. hgaissert@partners.org
Henning A
HA
Gaissert
James
J
Burns
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D055090:Tracheomalacia