Postintubation tracheal stenosis: Report of two cases and literature review

Abstract

Tracheal stenosis (TS) is a well-recognized yet underdiagnosed complication of prolonged intubation. Mechanisms include tracheal injury during intubation and ischemia of tracheal mucosa at the site of the endotracheal tube cuff and resultant fibrotic stenosis. TS usually develops 3–6 weeks following extubation and is often misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma. We report two such cases who developed TS following prolonged intubation.

Keywords

• Endotracheal tube cuff pressure
• postintubation tracheal stenosis
• prevention