Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Subglottic Stenosis
Overview
Subglottic stenosis is a condition in which a child's airway is obstructed due to congenital (present at birth) narrowing of the airway or from scarring just below the vocal cords. This narrowing can also occur lower in the airway, which is known as tracheal stenosis. The scar typically develops early in childhood, often because the child was born premature and needed a breathing tube as their lungs developed.
Subglottic stenosis can also occur in adults. It can occur after intubation or trauma to the neck, but can also happen spontaneously. Spontaneous cases typically affect women, and result in progressive shortness of breath. Patients are often treated unsuccessfully for asthma before the stenosis is discovered.
3Common Symptoms
- Breathing difficulties
- Hoarseness
- Cough
Diagnosis and Treatment
The best way to diagnose a stenosis is through an endoscopy. In some cases, an imaging study, such as a CT scan, may be performed. Significant stenosis may require placement of a tracheostomy tube to bypass the narrow part of the airway. The tracheostomy is generally placed to allow the child to breathe, feed and grow until they become healthy and stable enough for further treatment. Pediatric airway reconstruction is designed to rebuild the airways and to allow the tracheostomy to be removed.
Most adult patients do not need a tracheostomy, but procedures (both in the office and in the operating room) can be offered to significantly improve breathing.
Meet Our Team
We bring together physicians, speech-language pathologists, and other healthcare professionals to provide treatment to patients suffering from breathing troubles.
