Tracheal stenosis

What is tracheal stenosis?

Tracheal stenosis is a narrowing of the windpipe that causes breathing problems because less air reaches the lungs.

Causes and symptoms

Most cases of tracheal stenosis are acquired, meaning that they occur in the course of a person's life. There are many causes, including prolonged artificial ventilation, injuries to the trachea, tumors and the associated pressure on the trachea, enlarged thyroid glands, infections or systemic diseases that are associated with deposits in the tracheal wall (e.g. sarcoidosis). Less common causes are congenital narrowing of the trachea.

The central symptoms are shortness of breath and odd noises when breathing. These symptoms can be provoked by physical activity (mild tracheal stenosis) or may already be present at rest (severe tracheal stenosis), according to the severity of the stenosis.

How is tracheal stenosis treated?

Minor cases of tracheal stenoses which do not cause any or only a few symptoms for the patient generally do not call for treatment and should only be monitored. More serious tracheal stenoses, however, can lead to severe restrictions or even become dangerous for the patient. There are various treatment options that can be employed to normalize the trachea in such cases.

Tracheal surgery

To surgically remove severe tracheal stenosis, an incision is performed at the front of the neck to remove the relevant section of the trachea. Afterwards, the remaining healthy ends are sutured together. As a result, a continuous trachea with no narrowing is created.

Laser therapy for tracheal stenosis

Especially for moderate to severe tracheal stenosis, laser therapy is an alternative to open surgery. This involves inserting a camera with special instruments into the windpipe via the mouth whilst leaving the skin intact. The goal of this treatment is to remove scar tissue from the narrowing with a precise laser, making the affected section of the trachea wider again. Besides removing excess tissue, the surgeon can also place a so-called stent, which is attached to the inside of the trachea and keeps it open.

Follow-up care and prognosis

Each of the above-mentioned therapy methods comes with both advantages and disadvantages and must be carefully discussed with the attending physician.

Laser therapy is certainly the less aggressive option and offers good functional and cosmetic results, especially in patients with less severe stenosis due to scarring. Usually, patients can leave the hospital after just a few days. Nevertheless, the removal of the stenosis is often not permanent and, in many cases, it may come back sooner or later.

The best long-term results are achieved with surgery, especially for high-grade tracheal stenoses. As with any open surgery, however, there are increased risks involved, which can be minimized by trained staff and experienced specialists.

Which doctors and clinics specialize in trachea surgery?

To ensure optimal treatment of tracheal stenosis, experienced specialists should be consulted. In particular, they are otolaryngologists with a surgical focus as well as thoracic surgeons.

If you're in need of a doctor, you expect the best medical care possible. So of course patients are curious to find out what clinic to go to. As there is no objective way to answer this question and a legitimate doctor would never claim to be the best, patients must rely on a doctor's experience.
Let us help you find an expert for your condition. All listed doctors and clinics have been reviewed by us for their outstanding specialization in the field of tracheal stenosis and are looking forward to your inquiry or wish for treatment.