Subglottic stenosis

Subglottic stenosis is a narrowing of the airway that has significant impact on patient breathing and quality of life. The majority of cases result from intubation, prior tracheostomy, or trauma but some instances still have no known etiology. Knowledge of the disease has increased substantially over recent decades with advances in basic science research and collaborative clinical studies. Treatment approaches typically range from endoscopic to open surgery, including innovative strategies to prevent restenosis. This article presents a review of subglottic stenosis, focused on understanding pathophysiology and treatment paradigms.