Multidisciplinary care in nonmalignant central airway obstruction

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Benign central airway obstruction (CAO) presents complex management challenges.
• Existing literature often focuses on single-specialty approaches, neglecting multidisciplinary care.
• Nonmalignant CAO carries significant morbidity and mortality risks due to diverse etiologies.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes current diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for nonmalignant CAO.
• It emphasizes a multidisciplinary perspective, integrating otolaryngology, thoracic surgery, and interventional bronchoscopy.
• The review examines various endoscopic and surgical interventions, including medical therapy and intralesional corticosteroid injections.

Key Points:

• Management strategies for benign airway strictures range from medical and endoscopic therapies to surgical resection for complex cases.
• Intralesional corticosteroid injections show promise for managing inflammation and preventing recurrence.
• Therapeutic airway interventions have demonstrated significant improvements in patient breathlessness and quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Nonmalignant CAO necessitates a comprehensive, multimodal approach.
• Treatment selection depends on lesion complexity, extent, operability, and patient-specific factors.
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary strategy is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes in managing benign CAO.