Tracheal Resection for Stenosis & Tumors

Nonmalignant and malignant obstruction of the tracheal airway causes significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical symptoms are dyspnea, wheezing, or cough and mimic symptoms of chronic obstructive lung disease. Bronchoscopy and CT imaging will determine the nature of the tracheal disease.

Postintubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) is a known complication of endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. It is the most common indication for tracheal resection/reconstructive surgery.

In the case of tracheal tumors, bronchoscopic evaluation is done to assess vocal cord function, localize the tumor in relation to the cricoid and carina, determine the length of the luminal disease, and biopsy the tumor.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) of the trachea and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most frequent histological types of tracheal malignant tumors, accounting for approximately two-thirds of adult primary tracheal tumors.