Airway Strictures Diagnosed and Treated by Expert Interventional Pulmonologist
Highly experienced and respected interventional pulmonologist Dr. Sy Sarkar of Interventional Pulmonology at Mercy diagnoses and treats patients afflicted with airway strictures, which can be due to benign or malignant causes.
Airway strictures, also known as airway stenosis, are narrowing of the airway. These types of strictures may be located in the airway from the larynx or voice box to the trachea and bronchi.
Most cases of stenosis are caused from prolonged intubation, when a breathing tube is inserted into the trachea to assist with breathing or from a tracheostomy (surgical opening of the trachea).
However, other conditions may play a role in raising risk for the disease. These are known as risk factors. These include:
- Family history/genetics
- External injury to the throat
- Malignant (cancerous) and benign (noncancerous) tumors pushing on the airway
- Congenital abnormalities
- Bacterial and fungal infections
- Autoimmune diseases (examples: lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
- Radiation therapy
Airway strictures may cause a variety of symptoms and can often mimic asthma. These include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis
After a physical examination, a series of tests, procedures or advanced imaging may be used to confirm a diagnosis of an airway stricture. These may include the following:
Treatment of airway strictures can depend on the cause, the severity, and location of the narrowing. Options may include:
- Bronchoscopy with balloon dilation
- Bronchoscopy with airway stenting
- Bronchoscopy with thermal ablation
- Surgical resection