Introduction Print Section Listen Tracheal resection is performed most commonly for benign disorders. The primary indication is fibrotic stenosis, whether idiopathic, traumatic, or postintubation. Occasionally, tracheal resection is indicated for…
Introduction Print Section Listen A number of benign and malignant disorders of the upper airways can cause tracheobronchial narrowing, stricture, compression, or collapse (i.e., tracheobronchial malacia), ultimately leading to symptomatic…
Introduction Print Section Listen The term tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) describes a communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the airway. This defect can present at birth as a congenital anomaly or…
Introduction Print Section Listen In highly selected patient populations, flexible and rigid endoscopic (endobronchial) management offers effective treatment options for benign major airway disease (e.g., stenosis and malacia). These treatments…
Introduction Print Section Listen This chapter presents the most common congenital malformations of the esophagus that require surgical correction in infants and children. Today, most of these entities can be…
Introduction Print Section Listen Tracheobronchial injuries are rare but potentially lethal injuries associated with (1) thoracic trauma, (2) iatrogenic damage, and (3) inhalation injuries.1 Most traumatic tracheobronchial injuries are associated…
Introduction Print Section Listen The upper airways are defined as the trachea and mainstem bronchi. Functionally, the upper airways serve as conduits for ventilation. Anatomically and physiologically, however, they represent…
Introduction Print Section Listen While minimally invasive techniques have been used to alleviate esophageal symptoms, such as thoracoscopic release of vascular rings causing esophageal obstruction or laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal…
Introduction Print Section Listen Tracheostomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in surgical practice. An intervention dating back to 1500 bc,1–3 tracheostomy, until recently, was used solely to…
Introduction Print Section Listen Trauma is the leading cause of death in individuals between the ages of 1 and 44. In the Western world, motor vehicle accidents account for the…
