Tracheal resection is a surgical procedure of the windpipe. The procedure involves removing a part of the windpipe and stitching back the remaining part. Tracheal resection is most commonly performed in cases of cancers involving the windpipe or secondary to injury or sometimes after an incision in the windpipe made to relieve an obstruction to breathing (tracheostomy). Patients present with signs of airway obstruction, particularly when lying flat.
Up to 50% of the tracheal length can be removed by simple surgery, and the remaining ends can be connected. Only occasionally, an artificial reconstruction of the trachea may be required.
