Tracheobronchomalacia in Adults

摘要: Severe, diffuse tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is an underrecognized cause of dyspnea, recurrent respiratory infections, cough, secretion retention, and even insufficiency. Patients often have comorbidities, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inappropriate treatment for these conditions may precede eventual recognition TBM by months years. Most patients acquired form in which the etiology unknown. Diagnosis made airway computed tomography scan flexible bronchoscopy with forced expiration. The prevailing definition a 50% reduction cross-sectional area nonspecific, high proportion healthy volunteers meeting this threshold. clinically significant threshold complete near-complete collapse airway. Airway stenting treat TBM, although complications resulting from indwelling prostheses limit durability stents. Surgical stabilization posterior splinting (tracheobronchoplasty) effectively permanently corrects malacic airways. Proper surgical selection facilitated short-term stent trial.