What is tracheal collapse?

Tracheal collapse refers to a kind of disease in which the trachea of human body is drooping, flat or butterfly-shaped to varying degrees, which leads to the narrowing and narrowing of the inner diameter of trachea and causes difficulty in breathing and wheezing.

Trachea is an important part of respiratory tract. When the trachea collapses, it is difficult for airflow to pass through the trachea smoothly, which makes it difficult for air to enter and leave the lungs, which may endanger life and seriously affect the quality of life of patients.

Etiology of tracheal collapse

The etiology of tracheal collapse is complex, which may be related to heredity, congenital dysplasia, muscle relaxation, cartilage disease and trauma.

Heredity and congenital dysplasia are the main causes of tracheal collapse, muscle relaxation and cartilage tissue diseases can also lead to tracheal cartilage deformation, and trauma is a rare cause.

Classification of tracheal collapse

Tracheal collapse can be divided into congenital tracheal collapse and acquired tracheal collapse according to the location and course of disease.

Congenital tracheal collapse only occurs under the Adam's apple and above the carina, showing the form of chondromalacia, accompanied by dyspnea and wheezing when inhaling, usually occurring in infancy, which will affect children's growth and learning.

Acquired tracheal collapse mostly occurs in adults, mainly due to trauma, surgery, infection, drug reaction and other reasons, such as postoperative tracheal stenosis, tracheochondritis, vitamin D deficiency and other reasons, the severity is even greater, and the degree of dyspnea is also more serious.

Treatment of tracheal collapse

For different degrees of tracheal collapse, medical treatment methods are also different, generally including drug treatment, tracheal stent implantation or surgical treatment.

In drug treatment, oral drugs and local spraying can be used to relieve the pressure of tracheal stenosis and relieve tracheal muscles, so as to achieve the purpose of relieving symptoms.

Tracheal stent implantation is one of the main methods to treat tracheal collapse at present. Implant a metal or synthetic stent into the trachea, open the softened part of the trachea, and keep the airway unobstructed. Surgical treatment is a comprehensive treatment for severe cases of tracheal collapse, including tracheotomy and tracheal reconstruction.