Surgery of the Airways
Surgery of the large air passages to the lung — the trachea and
the bronchi — is probably the most highly specialized area in the
field of chest surgery, and these procedures are performed with
frequency at only a handful of centers nationwide. The conditions
requiring treatment include both benign and malignant tumors
of the air passages, as well as narrowing and obstruction of the
airways due to injury, scarring, infection, and other causes.
Penn is one of only a handful
of centers to which complicated
problems of the airway are referred
from throughout the United States.
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Treatment options include opening of narrow air
passages by a variety of endoscopic techniques including both
flexible and rigid bronchoscopy with or without laser; removing
tumors from the air passages; and insertion of small tubes, or
stents, to hold open narrowed passageways. More major surgical
procedures include removing a portion of the trachea or bronchus
with reanastomosis — tracheal or bronchial resection and
reconstruction.
The thoracic surgeons at Penn have had extensive
experience with all of these surgical and non-surgical
procedures used to diagnose and treat diseases,
tumors, and injuries of the air passages. Our
interventional pulmonologists are also proficient
in the endoscopic means of managing some of
these problems. For these reasons, Penn
is one of only a handful of centers in North
America to which complicated problems of the
airway are referred from throughout the United
States.
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