Tracheal stenosis

The causes of tracheal stenosis include congenital factors (such as tracheal developmental abnormalities) and acquired factors, such as scar stenosis following various inflammations or trauma, long-term compression of the tracheal wall by surrounding masses (such as thyroid masses) leading to softening and narrowing of the trachea, stenosis after tracheostomy or intubation, and stenosis resulting from radiotherapy for adjacent lesions. In recent years, with the increasing use of mechanical ventilation and radiotherapy, tracheal stenosis caused by these two factors has become more common. Tracheal stenosis is an irreversible and progressively worsening condition. The only effective treatment is surgical resection of the lesion. Since the disease course is progressively worsening, there is also a risk of sudden complete tracheal obstruction. Surgery should be performed as early as possible, and the surgical outcomes are good and reliable.