Airway reconstruction for stenosis
Dr. Weidenbecher is one of the most experienced surgeons in airway reconstruction for adults to restore natural breathing without the need for tracheotomy. A narrowing (stenosis) at or below the vocal cord level can be related to (intubation) injury, infection, inflammatory conditions, tumors or autoimmune diseases. At MetroHealth Medical Center Dr. Weidenbecher is surrounded by a team of experts to take care of the most challenging airway problems. Symptoms A subglottic or tracheal stenosis can sometimes be mistaken for other respiratory disorders, such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Common symptoms include:
Diagnosis A combination of in-office exams and X-rays is often needed to diagnose an airway stricture. Depending on the specific location, the structures are classified as:
Treatment Underlying conditions, which may be associated with the development of the stenosis or which may impact the treatment of the stenosis will have to be addressed first. Depending on the specific type of stenosis Dr. Weidenbecher may recommend any of the following minimal invasive or complex open procedures: |
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click here for more information on repair of posterior glottic stenosis
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click here to see a video of one of Dr. Weidenbecher's patients: www.youtube.com/watch?v=akqgGg-rPvI |
Complex airway reconstruction
Dr. Weidenbecher has significant experience in performing complex airway repair for subglottic or tarcehal stenosis. In some cases, the affected stenotic segment is surgically removed and both healthy ends are rejoined (cricotracheal or tracheal resection). In other cases, Dr. Weidenbecher uses tissue (e.g cartilage) from other body areas to reconstruct larynx and trachea (Laryngotracheal reconstruction). Click here for a list of Dr. Weidenbecher's publications on tracheal repair and research: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=weidenbecher+tracheal |