This technique involves an extremely high-pressure balloon inflated in areas of narrowing. The most typical area that this is used is in the subglottis just below the vocal cord. It is typically in the setting of dense scar that narrows the airway. In this setting the balloon can be inflated thereby compressing open the narrowed area of the airway, improving the breathing for the patient.
Occasionally Dr Broadhurst uses this technique higher up at either the vocal cord level or above this in the supraglottis. The goal at all levels is to improve the calibre of the airway.
