Global Variability in Surgical Management of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis: Insights from a Multidisciplinary International Survey

Introduction

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is an uncommon, chronic fibroinflammatory condition causing narrowing of the airway just below the vocal cords. It predominantly affects middle-aged women and leads to progressive respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, stridor, and cough. The rarity and heterogeneous nature of iSGS have hindered the development of standardized treatment strategies, resulting in diverse global surgical management practices. Understanding this variability is critical, as surgical interventions represent the cornerstone of iSGS care, ranging from minimally invasive endoscopic procedures to complex open airway reconstruction.