Airway Surgery

Airway surgery refers to a range of surgical procedures aimed at correcting structural abnormalities, obstructions, or injuries that affect the breathing passages, including the nose, throat, larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and bronchi. These surgeries are performed to restore normal airflow, improve oxygenation, and prevent respiratory complications.

Causes

Airway problems requiring surgery can arise from various conditions, including congenital abnormalities such as laryngomalacia or tracheomalacia, trauma to the face or neck, tumors or growths within the airway, vocal cord paralysis, scarring from prolonged intubation, obstructive sleep apnea, severe infections, or inflammatory diseases. In children, airway surgery is often needed for congenital defects, while in adults, it may be due to injury, tumors, or chronic airway narrowing (stenosis).

Symptoms

Airway obstruction may present with noisy breathing (stridor), shortness of breath, frequent choking, difficulty speaking, chronic cough, recurrent respiratory infections, or bluish discoloration of the lips and skin due to poor oxygenation. In severe cases, patients may experience life-threatening breathing difficulty requiring urgent intervention.

Treatment

Airway surgery is tailored to the cause and severity of the condition. Procedures may include removal of obstructions (such as tumors or polyps), widening narrowed segments (tracheal resection or dilation), repair of structural defects, reconstruction using grafts, or placement of stents to keep the airway open. In emergency cases, a tracheostomy may be performed to create a direct breathing passage through the neck. Postoperative care often involves airway monitoring, breathing support, speech therapy, and treatment of underlying causes to prevent recurrence.