Laryngeal stenosis: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is laryngeal stenosis?

Laryngeal stenosis is narrowing of the respiratory tract (larynx) structures, either supraglottic, glottic, or subglottic, which can cause obstruction of breathing, dyspnea, and hoarseness. This condition can be caused by external or internal trauma, previous operations, prolonged intubation, radiation, chemoradiation, or other causes. In children, stenosis can be congenital or congenital.

Laryngeal stenosis can be acute or chronic. This disease is characterized by a short-term narrowing of the larynx that causes oxygen disturbance to the respiratory tract. Symptoms of stenosis depend on the degree to which the voice gap is narrowed.

Acute stenosis occurs rapidly, leaving the body's protective mechanisms without time to operate. As a result, lack of oxygen (as well as excess carbon dioxide) in the blood causes serious damage to vital organs and systems, resulting in paralysis and death in patients.

Acute stenosis requires a fast treatment and healing process. However, if after the rescue effort of the patient with tracheostomy the cause of the stenosis does not go away, the condition can turn chronic. Chronic stenosis increases gradually and can lead to acute stenosis.

How common is this condition?

This condition can affect patients at any age. This can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of laryngeal stenosis?

Common symptoms of laryngeal stenosis are hoarseness, shortness of breath with difficulty breathing, wheezing, pale face, and restless behavior.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above, or have any questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body reacts differently. It is always best to discuss what is best for your situation with your doctor.

Cause

What causes laryngeal stenosis?

Most commonly, this condition is caused by trauma secondary to endotracheal intubation (a medical procedure that involves inserting a tube into the trachea to help keep outside air into the body of a patient who is experiencing difficulty / cannot breathe on his own), especially if the intubation period exceeds 10 days. .

Common causes that include infections are often scarlet fever, malaria, measles, typhus and typhoid fever, tuberculosis, syphilis and others.

Local factors of laryngeal stenosis include mechanical and chemical injury to the larynx, foreign bodies, medical procedures, gunshot wounds, congenital inflammation of the larynx and trachea (tonsillitis, tracheitis, laryngitis). Causes include diseases and benign tumors, bilateral paresis and cancer of the larynx, lesions adjacent to the body of the larynx.

Triggers

What puts a person more at risk of developing this condition?

Some of the trigger factors that make a person develop laryngeal stenosis are:

Prolonged intubation
Low birth weight
Reflux
Sepsis

Diagnosis and Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

How is laryngeal stenosis diagnosed?

In order for a person to discover that he or she has narrowed larynx (stenosis) requires a visit to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for a thorough physical examination and endoscopic evaluation of the airways.

Children with this condition may experience symptoms including an inability to cough up mucus, severe shortness of breath, noisy breaths, difficulty eating, or infections such as croup that recur with frequency or at an unusual age. Other times, children with stenosis may experience no symptoms.

Premature babies with laryngeal stenosis are often diagnosed only after the breathing tube is removed and they are unable to breathe properly on their own. In children with suspected laryngeal stenosis, microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy are performed. This involves using a microscope and camera to look over the larynx and trachea, identifying and measuring airway narrowing, with the child under anesthesia in the operating room.

What are the treatments for laryngeal stenosis?

Treatment of laryngeal stenosis depends on the severity of the stenosis, as well as the patient's general medical health. Treatment options also depend on the level of symptoms and causes. The goal is to immediately reduce and eliminate the symptoms of respiratory distress and shortness of breath.

Quoted from the journal published by Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, laryngeal stenosis is one of the most complex and difficult to treat conditions in the field of head and neck surgery.

Patients can be candidates for various endoscopy, minimally-invasive procedures to open the airway and improve breathing, which can involve the use of special adjuncts to optimize wound healing. Others may require open surgery for airway reconstruction using a special technique to increase the airway caliber.

Some of the treatment options include:

Medical observation: For mild cases of stenosis, standard follow-up care and aggressive upper respiratory infection management are usually recommended.
Injection or intralesional application: For cases caused by infection or inflammatory disorders of the airways, this condition can be treated with antibiotics and / or steroids.
Endoscopic (endolaryngeal) procedures: Minimally invasive procedures (eg use of a carbon dioxide laser) can be used to dilate (open) the airways of a patient with moderate laryngeal stenosis.
Open surgical reconstruction: For most severe cases, an open surgical procedure (eg tracheostomy) is usually required to open the airways and restore normal breathing.
After treatment, patients with this condition require follow-up care from a pulmonologist to monitor respiratory function and check for further obstruction of the airways.