#24, S2 High Stakes in the Malignant Airway

In this special joint episode of the STS Thinking Thoracic podcast and the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP), Dr. Erin Gillaspie is joined by interventional pulmonologist Dr. Sameer Avasarala, of University Hospitals, and head and neck surgeon Dr. Britney Scott, of the CHI Health Clinic, to discuss the multidisciplinary management of malignant airway obstruction. The conversation emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration among specialists, noting that treatment decisions depend not only on anatomy but also on patient-specific factors such as frailty, pulmonary function, and overall cardiopulmonary status. Using a top-to-bottom anatomic approach, the discussion explores management of tumors involving the upper trachea, mid-trachea, and carina, covering bronchoscopy, tumor debulking, stenting, tracheostomy, and surgical resection. They also discuss preoperative planning, postoperative airway care, and the value of multidisciplinary tumor boards and real-time collaboration.