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Airway Disorders
Airway disorders refer to any conditions that affect the normal function, structure, or openness of the airway, particularly the larynx (voice box), trachea, and the bronchi. These disorders can impact breathing, voicing and the ability to clear secretions. They may result from either structural abnormalities, functional impairments or obstruction of the airway.
Specific Conditions:
Subglottic Stenosis: In this condition the area below the vocal cords becomes narrowed, causing difficulty with air passing through to the lungs. This can be caused by scar tissue caused by injury, inflammation or can be congenital (from birth). Symptoms include noisy breathing and difficulty breathing with high pitched noise (stridor). Treatment includes steroids, COβ laser treatment and balloon dilatation under a short general anaesthetic.
Sleep Apnoea: This condition is usually associated with repeated cycles of starts and stops of breathing during sleep This is associated with loud snoring, gasping for air and daytime sleepiness. Risk factors are obesity, age, enlarged tonsils or tongue. Treatment involves lifestyle changes (weight loss), continuous positive airway pressure CPAP or occasionally surgery.
Ms. Iacovidou offers comprehensive treatment options for all airway conditions including minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, laser treatment, as well as major airway reconstructive operations under general anaesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions about Airway Dilation:
What does airway dilatation procedure involve?
This is an endoscopic procedure where the airway is assessed from the vocal cords down to the bronchi with a camera. Any scarring or stenosis is assessed under a microscope. Steroids are injected into the scar and cuts are made with a laser device. A balloon is passed and the scar/stenosis is crushed down. This is performed through the mouth without any external scar under general anaesthetic and you may or may not require overnight hospital stay.Β
What are the potential side effects of airway dilatation surgery?
Some the risks include damage to the teeth, gums, lips, risk of bleeding and infection, risk of laser burn, risk for the scar recurring, air trapping under the skin and needing further surgery.
What should I do and not do following my airway dilatation?
You will be able to eat and drink straight away following surgery. We would advise you to nebulise or steam for a few days following surgery to help clear out any blood and secretions from your airway. A Β few days of rest following surgery are indicated and we will provide you with a sick note.Β
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