Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Bell D, Knipe H, Dynamic tracheal collapse. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-43023
Dynamic tracheal collapse refers to collapse of the trachea during expiration. It is perhaps best assessed on CT in the end expiratory phase. An inspiratory series is also useful for comparative purposes. The term excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) refers to abnormal and exaggerated bulging of the posterior wall within the airway lumen during exhalation, and is often termed pathological if the reduced airway lumen is <50% of normal during this phase 4.
It may cause a variety of symptoms such as dyspnoea, wheeze, and exercise intolerance 3.
Aetiology
The posterior cartilage free tracheal membrane bulges forwards excessively during expiration. It can be observed in a number of conditions:
Treatment and prognosis
The prognosis depends of the severity of the condition. Varied management strategies have been proposed with some authors suggested tracheoplasty for selected cases 7.
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2. Boiselle PM, Litmanovich DE, Michaud G et-al. Dynamic expiratory tracheal collapse in morbidly obese COPD patients. COPD. 2013;10 (5): 604-10. doi:10.3109/15412555.2013.781149 - Pubmed citation
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3. Leong P, Bardin PG, Lau KK. What's in a name? Expiratory tracheal narrowing in adults explained. Clin Radiol. 2013;68 (12): 1268-75. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2013.06.017 - Pubmed citation
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4. Kalra A, Abouzgheib W, Gajera M et-al. Excessive dynamic airway collapse for the internist: new nomenclature or different entity?. Postgrad Med J. 2011;87 (1029): 482-6. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2010.111948 - Pubmed citation
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5. Murgu SD, Colt HG. Tracheobronchomalacia and excessive dynamic airway collapse. Respirology. 2006;11 (4): 388-406. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1843.2006.00862.x - Pubmed citation
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6. O'Donnell CR, Litmanovich D, Loring SH et-al. Age and sex dependence of forced expiratory central airway collapse in healthy volunteers. Chest. 2012;142 (1): 168-74. doi:10.1378/chest.11-2361 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
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7. Wright CD, Grillo HC, Hammoud ZT et-al. Tracheoplasty for expiratory collapse of central airways. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 2005;80 (1): 259-66. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.01.032 - Pubmed citation
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8. O'Donnell CR, Bankier AA, O'Donnell DH et-al. Static end-expiratory and dynamic forced expiratory tracheal collapse in COPD. Clin Radiol. 2014;69 (4): 357-62. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2013.11.003 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
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9. Al-Qadi MO, Artenstein AW, Braman SS. The "forgotten zone": acquired disorders of the trachea in adults. Respir Med. 2013;107 (9): 1301-13. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2013.03.017 - Pubmed citation
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10. Ray A. Excessive dynamic airway collapse and wheeze: Reasons for contemplation. (2016) Lung India : official organ of Indian Chest Society. 33 (6): 698-699. doi:10.4103/0970-2113.192865 - Pubmed
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