Double respiratory sequelae of head injury: subglottic stenosis and bilateral pneumothoraces

An 18-yr-old man with insulin-dependent diabetes developed severe subglottic stenosis after a very brief period of intubation. Emergency tracheostomy was complicated by the development of bilateral pneumothoraces. This case highlights the importance of making an early diagnosis to minimize the risk of complications and examines postintubation subglottic stenosis in the context of poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.