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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2018; 39(06): 731-746
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676574
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Benign Central Airway Obstruction

Catherine L. Oberg
1   Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Van K. Holden
2   Section of Interventional Pulmonology, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Colleen L. Channick
3   Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 January 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Benign central airway obstruction (CAO) is responsible for significant morbidity due to dyspnea and impaired quality of life. While iatrogenic causes, including stenosis after endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy tube placement, and surgery, account for the majority of cases of benign CAO, there are a multitude of other causes including infections, inflammatory disorders, extrinsic compression, benign endobronchial tumors, and tracheobronchomalacia. The approach to management depends on the underlying process responsible for the disorder and may include systemic therapy, endoscopic therapy, and surgery. In this review, we aim to provide a general overview of the presentation, evaluation, and management of nonmalignant CAO followed by a more in-depth review of several of the more common causes of this disorder.

Keywords

airway obstruction - benign - bronchoscopy - bronchial stenosis - tracheal stenosis