Tracheal Obstruction From Other Causes

Your Path

  • Tracheal Obstruction from other causes

Etiology

  • Tracheomalacia: Cartilagenous weakness that occurs for unclear reason
  • Stenosis related to prior injury, intubation (often prolonged), surgery, tracheostomy
  • Autoimmune/Inflammatory processes: relapsing polychondritis, granulomatosis w/polyangiitis, RA, sarcoid, other
  • Extrinsic compression from benign processes: Profound thyromegaly, fibrosing mediastinitis, other

Symptoms

  • Sob, doe, cough
  • Hoarseness
  • Symptoms may be related to primary process

Physical Exam Findings

  • Wheezing
  • Stridor, loudest when listening over trachea
  • Other findings may be related to primary process (if one exits)