Is It Possible That A Windpipe Could Be Closed If It Was Pressed Hard Enough?

Posted on Mon, 25 May 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 25 May 2020 Answered on

15 hours ago Last reviewed on

Question : Is it possible that a windpipe could be closed if it was pressed hard enough?

If the windpipe was pressed closed, would its opposite sides be touching?

Once the pressing force is taken off of the closed windpipe, would the windpipe return to its original opened position?

Once the pressing force is taken off of the closed windpipe, would the breathing feel comfortable?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (-4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No it's not a elastic pipe ...it consists of bone and cartilage both.

Detailed Answer:
Hi there and thanks for query,
Wind pipe consists of cartilage and bone. Yes if external force is applied to it the bone or cartilage may get displaced or break...hence giving a feeling of compete choking.

No I don't think that once the external traumatic force is removed the wind pipe would be back to original shape and size.

Very likely tracheostomy has to be done in patient otherwise the patient would choke and would went into respiratory failure.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D