Trachea stenosis symptoms are the result of narrowing or constriction of your trachea. This can be caused by prolonged intubation — a tube that’s inserted down your throat to help you breathe during medical or surgical procedures — or by other conditions.
The trachea is the windpipe that connects your nose and mouth to your lungs. When your trachea becomes narrowed, it can cause breathing problems and make colds worse. It also can affect your voice and cause you to have difficulty swallowing.
Common Symptoms of Tracheal Stenosis
A person with tracheal stenosis can experience symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. They can also have stridor, which is loud noisey breathing. This condition can also cause breathing problems in infants, who can have difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
Diagnosis of Tracheal Stenosis
Healthcare providers will use a variety of diagnostic tests to diagnose tracheal stenosis. These include a detailed history and physical examination, as well as lung function tests. The patient may be given anesthesia to allow them to have a more detailed exam of their airway.
Bronchscopy
Healthcare professionals insert a small, bendable tube into your nose and down to your trachea so they can see how your trachea works when you breathe in and out. They can also place a balloon or dilator in your trachea to help you breathe more easily, and they can use lasers to destroy growths that narrow or obstruct the trachea.
Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy
The most effective way to determine the cause of your tracheal stenosis is to have a laryngoscopy and a bronchoscopy performed. These two diagnostic techniques are used to determine how wide or narrow your trachea is, as well as to show any other lesions or obstructions in the larynx that might be causing your stridor.
Surgery for Tracheal Stenosis
When your tracheal stenosis doesn’t respond to medical treatment, it’s time for surgery. During this procedure, healthcare providers can repair the trachea to make it larger and easier for you to breathe.
They can use a high-pressure balloon dilator to expand your trachea, or they can remove some of the scar tissue that’s causing the problem. In addition, they might put a metal or silicone tube in your trachea to keep it open.
Tracheal stents are another option for long-term treatment. These stents are metal, silicone or hybrid tubes that are placed in the trachea to help keep it open.
Other treatments for tracheal stenosis are medications, surgery and laser therapy. These options can be effective for some people but aren’t always recommended as a long-term solution.
Talk to your doctor about the best type of treatment for you or your child. He or she will recommend the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan to get you back on track with your daily life.
If you have tracheal stenosis, it’s important to understand that the condition can improve or even go away over time as you get older. However, it’s still important to take care of your trachea to reduce the risk of developing new problems. If your trachea gets narrow again, you should see your doctor for a follow-up exam to ensure it’s not getting worse.
