Central Airway Obstruction

Central airway obstruction is a problem facing all medical and surgical subspecialists caring for patients with chest diseases. The incidence of this disorder appears to be rising because of the epidemic of lung cancer; however, benign causes of central airway obstruction are being seen more frequen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2004-06, Vol.169 (12), p.1278-1297
Main Authors: Ernst, Armin, Feller-Kopman, David, Becker, Heinrich D, Mehta, Atul C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Airway management
Airway Obstruction - diagnosis
Airway Obstruction - etiology
Airway Obstruction - therapy
Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Bronchoscopy
Cancer therapies
Cryotherapy
Disease
Etiology
Foreign bodies
Intensive care medicine
Lung cancer
Medical prognosis
Medical sciences
Morbidity
Mortality
Ostomy
Patients
Quality of life
Review Literature as Topic
Thyroid cancer
Tumors
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Summary:Central airway obstruction is a problem facing all medical and surgical subspecialists caring for patients with chest diseases. The incidence of this disorder appears to be rising because of the epidemic of lung cancer; however, benign causes of central airway obstruction are being seen more frequently as well. The morbidity is significant and if left untreated, death from suffocation is a frequent outcome. Management of these patients is difficult, but therapeutic and diagnostic tools are now available that are beneficial to most patients and almost all airway obstruction can be relieved expeditiously. This review examines current approaches in the workup and treatment of patients suffering from airway impairment. Although large, randomized, comparative studies are not available, data show significant improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life with treatment of central airway obstruction. Clearly, more studies assessing the relative utility of specific airway interventions and their impact on morbidity and mortality are needed. Currently, the most comprehensive approach can be offered at centers with expertise in the management of complex airway disorders and availability of all endoscopic and surgical options.
ISSN:1073-449X
1535-4970
DOI:10.1164/rccm.200210-1181SO