Table of Contents
What is adult stridor?
Stridor, or noisy breathing, is caused by a narrowed or partially blocked airway, the passage that connects the mouth to the lungs. This results in wheezing or whistling sounds that may be high-pitched and audible when a person inhales, exhales, or both.
Is stridor in adults serious?
In children, acute stridor often accompanies upper respiratory tract infection. In children, chronic stridor usually occurs with congenital conditions. Stridor in adults is much less common. Chronic stridor in adults often indicates serious underlying pathology.
What is the mechanism of stridor?
Stridor is produced by the rapid, turbulent flow of air through a narrowed or partially obstructed segment of the extrathoracic upper airway. Involved areas include the pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and the extrathoracic trachea.
What causes stridor adults?
Stridor in adults is commonly caused by vocal cord paralysis; an unusual narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords called subglottic stenosis; inhaling a piece of food; or a foreign object stuck in the airway.
How do you treat stridor in adults?
Treatment for Stridor in Adults Doctors may recommend surgery to open the airway and fix the source of the noisy breathing. Our experts use minimally invasive endoscopic surgical techniques whenever possible. Surgical techniques such as airway dilation may be used to eliminate stridor in adults.
How do you manage stridor?
Treatment should include:
- Oxygen (humidified if possible)
- Dexamethasone oral (unless swallowing problems then IV) 8mg twice daily (morning and lunchtime) if no contraindications and add in gastroprotection if appropriate (e.g. omeprazole oral 20mg once daily or lansoprazole 30mg once daily if no contraindications).
Can adults get stridor?
How do they fix stridor in adults?
How is stridor treated?
How is stridor treated?
- refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
- provide oral or injected medication to decrease swelling in the airway.
- recommend hospitalization or surgery in severe cases.
- require more monitoring.