The most common cause of laryngotracheal stenosis is trauma, which can be internal (prolonged endotracheal intubation; result of tracheotomy, surgery, irradiation; endotracheal burns) or external (blunt or penetrating neck trauma).  Additional tracheal stenosis causes are chronic inflammatory diseases (amyloidosis, sarcoidosis) and collagen vascular diseases ( Wegener granulomatosis).

A tracheal stenosis is often treated surgically with dilation following radial cuts.  The OmniGuide BeamPath CO2 laser fiber is an effective device for making radial incisions into the tracheal stenosis.  CO2 laser energy provides accurate cutting and coagulation of tissue with minimal thermal spread, which in combination with the OmniGuide BeamPath fiber improves the control of the laser cut.  For tracheal stenosis procedures, the OmniGuide BeamPath laser fiber can be delivered:

• Through a rigid bronchoscope
• Into the working channel of a flexible endoscope
• Through a laryngoscope

Typically two to four radial incisions are delivered from the OmniGuide BeamPath laser fiber through the stenosis, followed by controlled stenosis dilation.  By performing the radial incisions with an energy source that minimizes thermal damage and collateral trauma, the stenosis heals with less recoil and tissue re-scar formation.