Tracheal Disorders—Chest Injuries and Disorders

The chest is the part of the body between your neck and your abdomen. It includes the ribs and breastbone. Inside your chest are several organs, including the heart, lungs, and esophagus. The pleura, a large thin sheet of tissue, lines the inside of the chest cavity.

Chest injuries and disorders include

• Heart diseases
• Lung diseases and collapsed lung
• Pleural disorders
• Esophagus disorders
• Broken ribs
• Thoracic aortic aneurysms
• Disorders of the mediastinum, the space between the lungs, breastbone, and spine

• Chest tube insertion (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Costochondritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Mediastinal tumor (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pectus excavatum (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rib fracture – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Windpipe disorders

Your trachea, or windpipe, is one part of your airway system. Airways are pipes that carry oxygen-rich air to your lungs. They also carry carbon dioxide, a waste gas, out of your lungs.

When you inhale, air travels from your nose, through your larynx, and down your windpipe. The windpipe splits into two bronchi that enter your lungs.

Problems with the trachea include narrowing, inflammation, and some inherited conditions. You may need a procedure called a tracheostomy to help you breathe if you have swallowing problems, or have conditions that affect coughing or block your airways. You might also need a tracheostomy if you are in critical care and need to be on a breathing machine.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Blockage of upper airway (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tracheitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tracheomalacia – acquired (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tracheomalacia – congenital (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tracheostomy (Medical Encyclopedia)