Tracheobronchoplasty
Encyclopedia
A tracheobronchoplasty is an experimental procedure performed at limited medical facilities across the United States
. It consists of a thoracic surgery
during which mesh is sutured to the outside of the patient's trachea through a series of hundreds of knots. These sutures are in turn pulled taught which subsequently 'opens' the collapsed tissue in the trachea
l wall creating an opening with which to process air. The hope is eventually, this 'scaffolding' of sorts will scar over thereby strengthening the structure and making it permanent.
Recovery time is typically six to nine months and the patient should see gradual improvement in voice control, reduced coughing and an increased ability to move air more effectively. Not all patients with tracheobronchomalacia
can be considered candidates for this procedure. However, it does offer an alternative for those patients who are unable to tolerate the more traditional stent
therapy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It consists of a thoracic surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
during which mesh is sutured to the outside of the patient's trachea through a series of hundreds of knots. These sutures are in turn pulled taught which subsequently 'opens' the collapsed tissue in the trachea
Vertebrate trachea
In tetrapod anatomy the trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with goblet cells that produce mucus...
l wall creating an opening with which to process air. The hope is eventually, this 'scaffolding' of sorts will scar over thereby strengthening the structure and making it permanent.
Recovery time is typically six to nine months and the patient should see gradual improvement in voice control, reduced coughing and an increased ability to move air more effectively. Not all patients with tracheobronchomalacia
Tracheobronchomalacia
Tracheobronchomalacia or TBM is a condition characterized by flaccidity of the tracheal support cartilage which leads to tracheal collapse with condition extends further to the bronchi....
can be considered candidates for this procedure. However, it does offer an alternative for those patients who are unable to tolerate the more traditional stent
Stent
In the technical vocabulary of medicine, a stent is an artificial 'tube' inserted into a natural passage/conduit in the body to prevent, or counteract, a disease-induced, localized flow constriction. The term may also refer to a tube used to temporarily hold such a natural conduit open to allow...
therapy.