TRACHEA DISEASES

The trachea is the tubular organ between the larynx and the bronchi, composed of cartilage and membrane. Its average length in adults is 10-11 cm. It resembles a horseshoe in shape with a cartilaginous anterior part and a membranous posterior part. It has 16-20 tracheal rings.

TRACHEABRONCHIAL STENTS

Airway stents are used for recurrent tracheal dilatations due to benign or malignant strictures and in patients who are not suitable for surgical reconstruction. The most common application area is postintubation stenoses.

Figure 1 and 2: Tracheobronchial stents

POST-INTUBATION STENOSIS

It is the most common cause of benign stenosis of the upper airways. It is seen especially in intensive care patients after tracheostomy. Symptoms usually appear 1-6 weeks after extubation. Shortness of breath with exertion is the most prominent symptom. It occurs in stenoses above 50%. Stridor (whistling sound during breathing) is another symptom. Changes in vocal functions are observed depending on the site of involvement. Bronchoscopy is the first evaluation method. Thoracic CT including the neck should be performed. Treatment varies according to emergency and elective conditions. In emergency cases, the patient should be given oxygen and bronchodilator medication and bronchoscopy should be performed rapidly. In elective cases, intermittent dilatation, laser resection and surgical resection are among the treatment options. In elective cases, the results of resection and anastomosis operation in benign tracheal stenoses are close to perfect.

TUMOURS OF THE TRACHEA

Primary tumours of the trachea are rare. The incidence is 0.2 per 100,000. While these tumours are usually malignant in adults, they are predominantly benign in children. Benign Tracheal Tumours 90% of tracheal tumours seen in children are benign. The most common tumour is papilloma. It is multifocal and human papilloma virus 6 and 11 types have been found in its etiology. It usually regresses during the transition to adulthood. If treatment is necessary, bronchoscopic ablation should be performed. Malignant Tumours of the Trachea 90% of primary tumours of the trachea are malignant. The most common types are squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Tracheal tumours present with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, stridor, cough and haemoptysis. Some of these patients are treated for asthma or chronic bronchitis. Computed tomography is the first diagnostic method. Bronchoscopy should be performed in all cases. It should be performed both in terms of diagnosis and treatment approach. Surgery is the first option in treatment.

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