Their mucosal lining is continuous with that of the nose and this means that sinus infections sinusitis are common during a cold when the nasal mucosa is inflamed. The hollow sinuses help lighten the skull and act as a resonating chamber for sounds, as well as helping to produce mucus for the respiratory tract. Lacrimal ducts open into the nose and drain tears from the corner of each eye.
This also helps to moisten the surface of the nasal cavity. Three shell-like structures, the conchae or turbinates, protrude into each side of the nasal cavity and increase the surface area over which air flows on its way to the lungs Fig 2.
As air is drawn in, the turbinates cause it to swirl around within the nasal cavity and this is useful in a number of ways:. Breathing though the nose is much more effective at these functions than breathing through the mouth;.
Warmed, humidified air passes from the nasal cavities through the internal nares into the pharynx, a structure shared by the respiratory and digestive systems. This funnel-shaped tube is about The pharynx acts as a passageway for food on its way to the stomach and for air en route to the lungs. The mucosal epithelium in the pharynx is thicker than elsewhere in the respiratory tract as it has to protect the tissues from any abrasive and chemical trauma caused by food.
Two eustachian or auditory tubes connect the middle ears with the nasopharynx and allow pressure in the middle and outer ear to equalise.
The mucosal lining of the nasopharynx, eustachian tubes and middle ear is continuous and middle ear infections can occur when the nasopharynx is inflamed. Some of the most common surgical options include the following: Bronchoscopic tracheal dilation: Through a bronchoscope a light used to examine the inside of the airway , a balloon or tracheal dilator is used to widen stretch the trachea, providing immediate relief of the airway obstruction and allowing the thoracic surgeon to precisely identify the extent and severity of the narrowing.
Laser bronchoscopy: Through a bronchoscope, scar tissue is burned away with a laser beam; the procedure provides short-term but immediate relief of the obstruction.
Tracheobronchial airway stent: The tracheal narrowing is propped open with a fine metallic expandable stent inserted into the airway through a bronchoscope.
Tracheal resection and reconstruction: The area of tracheal scarring and constriction is cut away resected , and the two remaining ends of the trachea sewn back together resulting in an unobstructed airway. Tracheomalacia Tracheomalacia is a condition in which the cartilage in the wall of the trachea softens resulting in a floppy or weak airway that collapses with breathing and makes breathing difficult. Causes Tracheomalacia has multiple causes. Their options for treatment may include the following: Chest physical therapy: Non-invasive techniques that include lightly tapping on the chest to break up mucus, and deep breathing exercises.
Continuous positive airway pressure CPAP : Through a face mask, air under mild pressure forces the trachea to remain open during breathing.
Tracheobronchial airway stent: The trachea is propped open with a thin metallic expandable stent placed into the airway through a bronchoscope. Tracheal resection and reconstruction: After removal of the scarred, floppy portion of the trachea, the remaining ends of the trachea are joined back together. The procedure uses plastic mesh or surrounding tissue as support, and the length of the floppy trachea is sutured to it so that the airway is held in an open configuration during the breathing cycle.
They can also cause coughing of blood. Benign: pleomorphic adenoma, squamous cell papilloma, chondroma, granular cell tumor, glomus tumor, neurofibroma. Malignant: adenoid cystic carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant epithelial tumor, carcinoid tumor, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, small cell and non-small cell lung cancer.
Other tracheal disorders managed by The Lung Center include tracheo-esophageal fistula, an abnormal connection fistula between the esophagus and the trachea, and tracheobronchomalacia, a rare condition that occurs when the airway walls are weak, leading them to narrow or collapse. The most common cause of tracheal stenosis is intubation, when a patient has had a breathing tube inserted into the trachea for surgery or other medical procedures.
In addition to a careful physical examination, The Lung Center team may perform the following procedures to determine if your symptoms are caused by tracheal stenosis:. After taking your medical history and performing a careful physical examination, The Lung Center team may perform the following procedures to confirm a diagnosis of tracheal stenosis or tracheomalacia:. There are several surgical options to treat tracheal stenosis.
Your thoracic surgeon will recommend the best option for you, based on the cause, location and severity of the narrowing. Possible treatments and procedures are:. Often, tracheomalacia can improve without treatment.
However, you should be monitored closely if you suffer from frequent respiratory infections. Treatments may include:. In addition to using some of the surgical procedures listed above, your physician may treat your tumor using some of the following therapies:. When you become a patient of The Lung Center you will meet with many members of the team who will carefully review your medical history and conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation.
You will receive a recommendation for a therapy tailored just for you, based on your specific disorder and other factors, as well as comprehensive monitoring. Patients with tracheal disorders benefit from the wide range of expertise at The Lung Center. Collaboration between thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, radiologists, respiratory and speech therapists and other specialists and other specialists ensures comprehensive evaluation and effective treatment.
If your medical team discovers an underlying illness or concern, you will be referred to a BWH physician for an expert evaluation. Any surgery recommended will be performed by an experienced, board-certified thoracic surgeon, interventional pulmonologist or interventional radiologist who is an expert in tracheal disorders, in collaboration with the treatment team that including nurses and physician assistants who specialize in caring for patients with tracheal disorders.
Your surgeon will also collaborate with pulmonologists and otolaryngologists to tailor a treatment plan for you. Our specialized care team has some of the best results in the country. Besides, this book will be a great reference for otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, pediatricians, neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, specialists in sleep medicine, researchers in clinical and basic medicine, experts in science and technology.
Applications to edit the book are assessed and a suitable editor is selected, at which point the process begins. Potential authors submit chapter proposals ready for review by the academic editor and our publishing review team.
Once approved by the academic editor and publishing review team, chapters are written and submitted according to pre-agreed parameters. Full chapter manuscripts are screened for plagiarism and undergo a Main Editor Peer Review. Results are sent to authors within 30 days of submission, with suggestions for rounds of revisions. All chapters are copy-checked and typesetted before being published. Tang-Chuan Wang is an excellent otolaryngologist — head and neck surgeon in Taiwan.
As an Author Service Manager my responsibilities include monitoring and facilitating all publishing activities for authors and editors. From chapter submission and review, to approval and revision, copy-editing and design, until final publication, I work closely with authors and editors to ensure a simple and easy publishing process.
I maintain constant and effective communication with authors, editors and reviewers, which allows for a level of personal support that enables contributors to fully commit and concentrate on the chapters they are writing, editing, or reviewing. I assist authors in the preparation of their full chapter submissions and track important deadlines and ensure they are met.
I help to coordinate internal processes such as linguistic review, and monitor the technical aspects of the process.
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