INTERVENTIONAL BRONCHOSCOPY
Narrowing of the Windpipe (Trachea) and Bronchi: Bronchoscopic Treatment Options
Prof. Dr. Yalçın Karakoca · Last updated: 25 September 2026
SHORT ANSWER
Narrowing of the windpipe (trachea) and main bronchi can develop for various reasons. Having a breathing tube in place for a long time in intensive care can leave scar tissue. An opening made from the neck into the windpipe (tracheostomy) can have the same effect. Inflammatory diseases and tumours can also lead to narrowing. Pressure on the airway from the outside can also cause it. The narrowing causes shortness of breath that gets worse with exertion. A wheezing sound is also heard when breathing in and out. Frequently recurring infections and, in some patients, severe breathing difficulty may also occur. Treatment is carried out with a thin tube with a camera at its tip (bronchoscope). The narrowing is widened with a balloon. The scar or tumour tissue causing the narrowing is removed. If needed, a tube that holds the airway open (stent) is placed. Depending on the type of narrowing, the procedure may need to be repeated. Regular follow-up is important.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Shortness of breath occurs and gets worse with exertion. A whistling or wheezing sound may be heard when breathing in and out. The symptoms may be mistaken for asthma, but they do not respond to asthma medicines. A cough and frequently recurring bronchitis or pneumonia may also occur. A chest CT scan is carried out for diagnosis. An image showing the inside of the airway can also be created on a computer. The breathing test graph may show a flattening that is typical of the narrowing. The narrowing is also seen and measured directly with a bronchoscope.
Treatment options
| Type of narrowing | First-line approach | Repeat procedures and follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Short, ring-shaped benign narrowing | Loosening the narrowing with small cuts made from inside the airway through a bronchoscope, and widening with a balloon | May need to be repeated |
| Long and complex benign narrowing | Widening with a balloon and a stent; surgery is also considered as an option | Stent check at 6–8 weeks |
| Tumour narrowing the airway from inside | Reducing the tumour tissue (tissue removal, laser, burning with argon gas, freezing), with a stent if needed | Alongside cancer treatment |
| Airway compressed from outside | Stent | Checks for the stent moving out of place and for blockage with mucus |
| Overgrowth of healing tissue (granulation tissue) after a stent or tracheostomy | Removal with a resector balloon or by freezing | Regular follow-up |
The procedure and risks
The procedure is carried out under general anaesthesia with a rigid and/or flexible bronchoscope. The procedure takes 30–90 minutes. Most patients are kept in hospital overnight for observation. Risks include bleeding, a tear in the airway (rare) and infection. The airway may narrow again, and the stent may move out of place or become blocked. Patients who have had a stent placed are given advice on humidification and on medicines that are breathed in (inhalation).
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
Is it suitable for you?
Book an appointment and bring your breathing test and chest CT scan reports. We decide together at the consultation. If you are coming from outside Istanbul, an online preliminary consultation can be held first.
Please bring: your breathing test, your chest CT scan report and images (CD/USB), your list of medicines and, if you have one, your blood gas test result.
HAVE A QUESTION?
Frequently asked questions
The questions our patients and their relatives ask most often, with answers. We discuss questions about your own situation together at the consultation.
APPOINTMENT
Book an appointment for a preliminary assessment
To find out whether you are suitable, book a preliminary assessment appointment. Bring your breathing test, chest CT scan report and list of medicines with you.
info@yalcinkarakoca.com · Rüzgarlıbahçe Mah. Cumhuriyet Cad. Hasoğlu Plaza Kat:3, Kavacık / Beykoz, İstanbul
This page is for general information purposes. It does not replace a medical examination or diagnosis. Treatment decisions are made during an examination, on an individual basis. In an emergency, call 112.
Medical content review: Prof. Dr. Yalçın Karakoca, Pulmonologist · Last updated: 25 September 2026