Classifications
There are three types of tracheomalacia:
Type 1—congenital, sometimes associated with tracheoesophageal fistula or esophageal atresia
Type 2—extrinsic compression sometimes due to vascular rings
Type 3—acquired due to chronic infection or prolonged intubation or inflammatory conditions like relapsing polychondritis

Treatment
According to the 2012 Cochrane review, there is no evidence supporting medical therapy over surgical therapy for significant tracheomalacia, or vice versa. Current recommendations for mild to moderate non-life-threatening tracheomalacia focuses on symptom management. Regular use of hypertonic saline nebulizers
Low dose inhaled steroids may help decrease airway inflammation and swelling
Inhaled Ipratropium may help decrease secretions and stiffen smaller airways
Antibiotics during active respiratory infection may decrease severity and length of symptoms
Continuous Airway Positive Pressure (CPAP) provides additional intraluminal pressureLife is usually saved if the airway is opened via a hole in the throat. If a person survives, they may have symptoms, but usually will get better after the airway is reopened. If the symptoms are severe enough, treatment may be needed. These range from medical management over mechanical ventilation (both continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) to tracheal stenting and surgery. Surgical techniques include aortopexy, tracheopexy, tracheobronchoplasty, and tracheostomy. The role of the nebulised recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) remains inconclusive. See also
Tracheal collapse for the condition in dogs

References


== External links ==
Cobalt poisoning is intoxication caused by excessive levels of cobalt in the body. Cobalt is an essential element for health in animals in minute amounts as a component of Vitamin B12. A deficiency of cobalt, which is very rare, is also potentially lethal, leading to pernicious anemia.Exposure to cobalt metal dust is most common in the fabrication of tungsten carbide. Another source is from wear and tear of certain metal-on-metal hip prostheses.Per the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cobalt metal with tungsten carbide is "probably carcinogenic to humans" (IARC Group 2A Agent), whereas cobalt metal without tungsten carbide is "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (IARC Group 2B Agent). Cobalt salts
The LD50 value for soluble cobalt salts has been estimated to be between 150 and 500 mg/kg. Thus, for a 100 kg person the LD50 would be about 20 grams.Soluble cobalt(II) salts are "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (IARC Group 2B Agents). Beer drinkers cardiomyopathy
In August 1965, a person presented to a hospital in Quebec City with symptoms suggestive of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Over the next eight months, fifty more cases with similar findings appeared in the same area with twenty of these being fatal. It was noted that all were heavy drinkers who mostly drank beer and preferred the Dow brand; thirty out of those drank more than 6 litres (12 pints) of beer per day.