Postintubation Tracheal Stenosis: Case Report and Review of Current Management

Tracheal stenosis is an uncommon but serious complication of prolonged intubation and tracheostomy patients. Treatment is often provided by otorhinolaryngologists or interventional pulmonologists, but because symptoms may not appear for weeks or months after extubation, primary care physicians are frequently the first to encounter this complication. On presentation, tracheal stenosis may be mistaken for asthma with dyspnea and stridor. Presented is the case of a 53- year-old woman who was referred to the otorhinolaryngologist with post-intubation tracheal stenosis and underwent a series of surgical procedures to repair her airway including tracheal resection and anastomosis. The common presenting signs, treatment options, and prevention strategies for similar patients are examined.