airwayENT

airwayENT refers to a subspecialty within otolaryngology that concentrates on the airway from the nasal passages to the trachea, with emphasis on airway patency, function, and safety of respiration. Practitioners diagnose and treat congenital and acquired conditions that impede airflow, perform airway management in elective and emergency settings, and participate in anesthesia and critical care planning. The field encompasses pediatric and adult patients and often involves collaboration with anesthesiology, pulmonology, intensive care, and speech-language pathology.

Key areas include evaluation of airway anatomy and function using endoscopy and imaging, assessment of sleep-related breathing disorders, and management of conditions such as laryngotracheal stenosis, vocal cord paralysis or edema, subglottic stenosis, tumors, trauma, and congenital anomalies. Treatment approaches combine medical therapy, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures, and open reconstructive surgery.

Techniques may include awake fiberoptic or video-assisted intubation, laser or microdebridement, balloon dilation, stenting, cricotracheal resection, tracheostomy, laryngotracheal reconstruction, and post-procedural airway optimization. Non-surgical care includes management of inflammatory airway disease and sleep-disordered breathing with devices and rehabilitation.

Clinical practice often centers on specialized airway clinics and multidisciplinary teams to plan, perform, and monitor interventions, with emphasis on preoperative airway assessment, airway rescue planning, and decannulation protocols. Training typically involves otolaryngology residency with a dedicated airway surgery or airway reconstruction fellowship, sometimes in collaboration with anesthesiology and critical care. The aim is to improve airway safety, facilitate anesthesia, and preserve or restore normal breathing and voice.