Mesude Uçak, 60, who lives in ORDU, applied to the doctor with a complaint of swelling in the neck. A woman with 2 children who were seen to have a mass in the trachea during the surgery was told that she have to be operated on again. In search of a doctor, Uçak reached out to Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Yeditepe University Hospitals. The tumor, located in the part of Mesude Uçak's trachea very close to the vocal cords, was successfully removed without any damage to the vocal cords. In this way, Mesude Uçar was saved from the tracheostomy process that would allow it to breathe by drilling a hole in her neck.
Dean of Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine and Head of the Chest Surgery Department Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan stated that some of the patients who had difficulty breathing were misdiagnosed and treated for COPD or asthma. Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan remarked that both patients and physicians should keep in mind the possibility of a tumor or tracheal stenosis in the trachea of patients who have shortness of breath for a long time and cannot recover with treatment. 

Tracheostomy Is Not Your Destiny in Tracheal Stenosis

Prof. Dr. Ercan emphasized that it was risky to operate on the same area for the second time and continued: "Mrs. Uçak had a tumoral tissue originating from the thyroid gland in the throat area. While being evaluated by the otolaryngologist, the tumor was thought to originate from the thyroid gland, and the tumor was removed by protecting both vocal cords of the thyroid gland. However, during the surgery, it was seen that the tumor also infiltrated the trachea. The area where the tumor grows in the trachea is a complex area with vocal cords. Despite the increased risk of complications caused by repeat surgeries after the necessary preparations, we removed the mass by protecting both vocal cords with successful surgery. After that, we will support the region with radiotherapy, and we will have made the right treatment as much as possible to ensure that our patient gets rid of this disease permanently.” 

"Unconscious Surgery and Interventions to Save Time Due to Shortness of Breath Can Sometimes Cause Patients to Lose Their Chance of Full Recovery"

Stating that patients with shortness of breath should keep other possibilities in mind and pay attention, Yeditepe University Hospitals Chest Surgery  Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan continued as follows: "Patients and physicians should keep in mind that patients with shortness of breath may have shortness of breath in the trachea or throat area. For patients with this condition, in specialized clinics, the fact that different branches evaluate the patient by cooperating and planning the treatment together will ensure that patients use the high chance of recovery possible only in the first surgery correctly. The chance of success in repeat surgeries for tracheal stenosis that cannot be achieved at one time gradually decreases and the risk of complications such as hoarseness, narrowing again, or having to drill a hole in the throat increases. As a result of these repetitive interventions, or uncontrolled laser and various endoscopic interventions made in a hurry without a good evaluation to save time due to shortness of breath, patients may lose their chance of 'complete recovery' that they can catch when intervened correctly in the first place."

"Patients Who Cannot Benefit From Asthma and COPD Treatment May Consider Tracheal Stenosis"

It is never right to say that every patient diagnosed with asthma or COPD has a narrowing of the trachea. On the other hand, a significant number of patients with tracheal stenosis can be given drug treatment for a long time with diagnoses of diseases such as asthma or COPD before being diagnosed, but no improvement can be achieved. Yeditepe University Hospital Head of Chest Surgery Department Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan: "It should be kept in mind that if patients who have experienced a minor trauma in the throat area or who have been placed in the trachea for ventilator treatment during surgery or intensive care in the past, if they have shortness of breath, they go to doctors for a long time and are treated with asthma or COPD with breath-opening drugs and if they do not benefit, there may be a problem in the trachea due to shortness of breath in these patients." 

“I Feel Like I Was Reborn” 

Mesude Uçak, a 60-year-old mother of two, stated she applied to the doctor with the complaint of swelling in her throat: ''Swelling started in my throat and I immediately went to the doctor. I was told it was from my tonsils. When I did not go through with the treatment, I went to another doctor, and they said that there was a problem with my thyroid. I immediately had surgery. However, after the surgery, my doctor stated that a small mass remained in my windpipe and that another doctor should see and operate on it because it did not have its own area. After that, my search for a doctor started and I found my doctor Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan. I thank him very much. I am so happy that I feel like I was reborn. My vocal folds are okay too.”

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