What Are Laryngotracheal Procedures?
Laryngotracheal Resection, Reconstruction and other procedures are performed when a portion of the airway, known as the subglottis, or region immediately below the vocal folds is narrowed. It can occur for many reasons, including injury, infection, stomach acid reflux, a birth defect or as the result of the insertion of a breathing tube or a disease that causes blood vessel or tissue inflammation.
Laryngotracheal Resection, Reconstruction and other procedures are performed to establish a permanent, stable airway for you to breathe through without the use of a breathing tube. Surgery can also improve voice and swallowing issues.
Reasons for this surgery include:
Narrowing of the airway (stenosis).
Stenosis may be caused by infection, disease or injury, but it's most often due to irritation related to breathing tube insertion (endotracheal intubation) in infants born with congenital conditions or born prematurely or as a result of a medical procedure. Stenosis can involve the vocal cords (glottic stenosis), the windpipe just below the vocal cords (subglottic stenosis), or the main part of the windpipe (tracheal stenosis).
Malformation of the voice box (larynx).
Rarely, the larynx may be incompletely developed at birth (laryngeal cleft) or constricted by abnormal tissue growth (laryngeal web), which may be present at birth or a result of scarring from a medical procedure or infection.
Weak cartilage (tracheomalacia).
This condition occurs when an infant's soft, immature cartilage lacks the stiffness to maintain a clear airway, making it difficult for your child to breathe.
Vocal cord paralysis.
Also known as vocal fold paralysis, this voice disorder occurs when one or both of the vocal cords don't open or close properly, leaving the trachea and lungs unprotected. In some cases where the vocal cords do not open properly, they can obstruct the airway and make breathing difficult. This problem can be caused by injury, disease, infection, previous surgery or stroke. In many cases, the cause is unknown.
After taking into consideration your condition and any other medical issues, your surgeon will discuss the most appropriate course of action, which may include:
