Cricotracheal Resection Treatment in India

Krishna Chopra, a 58-year-old former school...

Krishna Chopra, a 58-year-old former school principal, had been struggling for over a decade. A severe car accident in his 40s required emergency intubation that damaged his windpipe. Since then, he lived with a constant, raspy shortness of breath, a weak voice that faded during parent-teacher meetings, and recurring bouts of bronchitis that forced him into early retirement. His active life of hiking and singing in his community choir became a distant memory. After years of managing with inhalers and speech therapy, his ENT surgeon, Dr. Mehta, explained that the scar tissue in his subglottic stenosis was progressively narrowing his airway, a ticking clock. The cricotracheal resection was presented as the definitive, albeit complex, solution to rebuild his airway and reclaim his breath and voice. The surgery was daunting, and the week in the hospital with a temporary tracheostomy tube was challenging, filled with frustration over communication boards. However, as the swelling subsided and the tracheostomy was removed, Krishna took his first deep, unobstructed breath in years. Six months post-op, his voice is stronger, he walks his dog without gasping, and while he may not return to singing soprano, the profound relief and gratitude have reshaped his outlook. He volunteers, using his restored voice to counsel others with similar injuries, transforming his long struggle into a source of strength.