About Airway Stenosis
Key Highlights
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Minimally invasive approach, often performed via bronchoscopy.Direct visualization allows for precise diagnosis and targeted treatment.Effective in restoring airway patency and improving breathing capacity.Can prevent serious complications like recurrent pneumonia or respiratory failure.Often performed as a same-day or short-stay procedure with a quicker recovery than open surgery.
Who is this surgery for?
- Persistent shortness of breath (dyspnea) not explained by other lung conditions.
- High-pitched breathing sounds (stridor) or wheezing localized to the central airway.
- Recurrent lung infections or pneumonia due to poor airway clearance.
- Difficulty clearing secretions from the lungs.
- Stenosis caused by prolonged intubation, tracheostomy, trauma, tumors, or inflammatory conditions like granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
- Failed response to standard medical management for obstructive symptoms.
How to prepare
- Complete a thorough medical evaluation, including imaging studies like a CT scan of the chest.
- Undergo pulmonary function tests to assess the degree of airflow limitation.
- Discuss all current medications with the doctor; you may need to temporarily stop blood thinners.
- Fast (no food or drink) for 6-8 hours before the procedure if sedation or anesthesia is planned.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure, as sedation effects will linger.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding at the treatment site within the airway.
- Infection or pneumonia following the procedure.
- Perforation (a small tear) in the airway wall, which is rare but serious.
- Swelling of the treated area, which can temporarily worsen breathing.
- Reaction to sedatives or anesthesia used during the bronchoscopy.
- Restenosis (re-narrowing) of the airway over time, requiring repeat procedures.
- Displacement or mucus plugging of an implanted stent.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Immediate post-procedure monitoring in a recovery area for a few hours to ensure stable breathing.
- You may have a sore throat, hoarseness, or cough for a few days; throat lozenges and gentle cough syrups can help.
- Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and driving for 24-48 hours after sedation.
- Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments for the pulmonologist to monitor healing and airway patency.
- Use prescribed medications, such as inhalers or antibiotics, as directed.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience fever, increased shortness of breath, or significant coughing up of blood.
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Typical hospital stay: 0-2 days
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Expected recovery time: 3-7 days for routine activities, 2-3 weeks for full recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering airway stenosis in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in Turkey with pulmonology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform airway stenosis. MediFyr helps you compare pulmonologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for airway stenosis compare across other countries where we have data.
Priya Das, a 42-year-old elementary school...
Priya Das, a 42-year-old elementary school teacher and mother of two, had a history of severe asthma. Over the past year, she noticed her inhalers were becoming less effective. She developed a constant, high-pitched wheeze, struggled to speak full sentences without gasping, and felt a terrifying tightness in her throat during even mild exertion. Her pulmonologist, Dr. Sharma, ordered a CT scan and bronchoscopy, which revealed significant subglottic stenosis, a narrowing of her windpipe just below the vocal cords, likely from years of inflammation. Dr. Sharma recommended balloon bronchoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure to gently stretch the narrowed airway open. Priya was terrified of anything involving her breathing but trusted her doctor. The procedure under sedation was quick; she felt immediate relief upon waking, able to take a deep, unobstructed breath for the first time in months. Recovery involved a day of observation and a sore throat, but within a week, her energy returned. Emotionally, she had been living in constant, quiet fear, anxious she wouldn't be able to keep up with her kids or classroom. Post-procedure, she felt liberated and deeply grateful, her confidence restored along with her breath.