Laryngeal Stenosis

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Laryngeal Stenosis - Choke Hold!

Laryngeal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the laryngeal airway (supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis), obstructing airflow.

  • Types:

    • Congenital: Present at birth, often a subglottic web or cartilaginous anomaly.
    • Acquired: Develops later due to various insults.

      ⭐ The most common cause of acquired subglottic stenosis is prolonged endotracheal intubation.

  • Common Acquired Etiologies: 📌 "I GET CIST"

    • Intubation (prolonged) / Iatrogenic (surgical) / Idiopathic
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
    • External trauma
    • Tumors (benign or malignant)
    • Caustic ingestion
    • Infections (e.g., Tuberculosis, Diphtheria)
    • Systemic/Autoimmune (e.g., Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA))

Subglottic stenosis vs normal airway

Sites & Grades - Narrow Escape Routes

Laryngeal stenosis is classified by anatomical site and severity.

  • Anatomical Sites:

    • Supraglottic: Narrowing above the glottis.
    • Glottic: Narrowing at the level of vocal cords.
      • Anterior: Involving anterior commissure.
      • Posterior: Involving posterior commissure. 📌 Often due to intubation injury (interarytenoid area).
      • Complete: Entire glottis affected.
    • Subglottic: Narrowing below the glottis, most common in children.
    • Combined/Pan-laryngeal: Stenosis at multiple levels.
  • Subglottic Stenosis Severity: Myer-Cotton Grading System

    Grade% Luminal Obstruction
    I<50%
    II51-70%
    III71-99%
    IV100% (No detectable lumen)

Anatomical sites of laryngeal stenosis

⭐ Myer-Cotton Grade I: <50% obstruction, Grade II: 51-70%, Grade III: 71-99%, Grade IV: No detectable lumen.

Symptoms & Scopes - The Gasping Truth

  • Clinical Features: Key manifestations.
    • Stridor: Key symptom.
      • 📌 Inspiratory: Supraglottic/Glottic lesions (Air struggles In).
      • Biphasic: Subglottic/Tracheal lesions (Obstruction affects Both phases).
    • Dyspnea: Especially on exertion.
    • Hoarseness/Aphonia: Voice changes.
    • Persistent Cough, Recurrent croup (children).
    • Infants: Feeding difficulties, Failure To Thrive (FTT).
    • Older children/Adults: Exercise intolerance.
  • Diagnostic Evaluation: Confirming stenosis.
    • Detailed History & thorough Physical Examination.
    • Flexible Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy (FNPL): Initial dynamic view.
    • Rigid Laryngoscopy & Bronchoscopy: Gold standard for definitive assessment & grading.
    • Imaging Studies:
      • X-ray Neck (AP/Lat): May show "steeple sign" in subglottic stenosis. X-ray series showing progression of subglottic stenosis
      • CT/MRI: Defines extent, length, 3D view.
    • Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): Assess obstruction severity.

⭐ Biphasic stridor is characteristic of subglottic or cervical tracheal stenosis.

Fixing the Funnel - Airway Architects

Core Goals:

  1. Secure & maintain patent airway.
  2. Preserve (or restore) voice quality.
  3. Achieve decannulation if tracheostomy present.

Management Spectrum:

  • Conservative:
    • Observation for asymptomatic/mild stenosis.
    • Manage contributing factors: GERD, allergies.
  • Endoscopic Interventions: (For shorter, thinner stenosis)
    • Dilation: Balloon, rigid bougies.
    • Laser Excision/Ablation: CO2, KTP for webs, granulations.
    • Stents: Temporary (e.g., silicone) to maintain patency post-dilation.
    • Adjuvant: Mitomycin-C application to ↓ restenosis.
  • Open Surgical Reconstruction: (For complex, severe, or long-segment stenosis)
    • Laryngotracheoplasty (LTP): Augmentation with cartilage grafts (rib, thyroid, auricular).
    • Cricotracheal Resection (CTR): Excision of stenotic segment & end-to-end anastomosis.
    • Tracheostomy: Temporary (airway access during multi-stage repair) or permanent (palliative).

Laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) and Cricotracheal Resection (CTR)

Simplified Treatment Pathway:

⭐ Cricotracheal Resection (CTR) generally offers the highest success rates for severe, complex subglottic stenosis, especially in pediatric cases.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Laryngeal stenosis is a narrowing of the laryngeal airway, most commonly acquired due to prolonged intubation.
  • Biphasic stridor is a hallmark symptom; others include dyspnea and hoarseness.
  • Myer-Cotton grading (Grades I-IV) is crucial for classifying subglottic stenosis severity.
  • Endoscopy (flexible or rigid) is the gold standard for diagnosis.
  • Treatment ranges from endoscopic dilation and laser to laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR).
  • Congenital stenosis is rarer, often presenting with weak cry in infants and typically affecting the subglottis or glottis.
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Most common site for laryngeal CA is _____

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Most common site for laryngeal CA is _____

glottis

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