Tracheal stenosis

Tracheal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the trachea, the main breathing tube of the lungs. It may be caused as a result of an injury (known as acquired tracheal stenosis); it can occur as a birth defect (known as congenital tracheal stenosis) or often there may be no apparent cause found (idiopathic subglottic stenosis). In the case of acquired tracheal stenosis, the trachea narrows as a reaction to an irritation or injury. In the case of congenital tracheal stenosis, abnormalities in the cartilage of the trachea can cause the airway to narrow.

Diagnosing tracheal stenosis can only be done under direct vision with bronchoscopy. Some common symptoms of the condition include wheezing; apnoea; congestion in the chest; and recurring pneumonia. Many people are often misdiagnosed as having asthma for many years before receiving definitive treatment for the stenosis. Children with the condition may experience worsening symptoms when affected by an upper respiratory infection. Treatment for this condition is usually in the form of a dilatation or widening of the area where the narrowing has occurred. This is done under general anaesthesia where small incisions are made in the stenosis and then dilated with a balloon to achieve the desired widening.