Treatment of Laryngeal and Tracheal Stenosis: Cooperative Treatment With Our Pulmonary Interventionalist Colleagues

Objectives/hypothesis: We will describe the treatment of patients with subglottic and tracheal stenosis using instruments and techniques utilized by otolaryngologists and interventional pulmonologists (IP), with a focus on IP-favored approaches that may be less familiar to otolaryngologists. We will present two cases that were treated cooperatively by otolaryngology and IP and will highlight the advantages of certain techniques.

Study design: Case series METHODS: This is a case-based presentation highlighting procedures done cooperatively by otolaryngology and IP. Instruments and techniques typically utilized by each specialty will be presented, including rigid and flexible bronchoscopy, laser, balloon dilation, medical adjuncts, fiberoptic electrocautery, fiberoptic cryoablation, and fiberoptic argon plasma coagulation. Patient outcomes for these techniques will also be discussed based on the current literature.

Results and conclusions: A dichotomy exists in the approaches typically utilized by otolaryngology and IP to address laryngotracheal stenosis. Our IP colleagues utilize techniques via a flexible bronchoscope that are often not considered in a typical otolaryngology practice. We discussed these techniques to educate otolaryngologists who may be looking to contribute to their armamentarium, as current literature suggests promising patient outcomes. Ultimately, a team approach to these often-complex patients can result in excellent outcomes.