Severe tracheal stenosis due to prolonged tracheostomy tube placement: a case report

Tracheal stenosis is the most common late airway complication of tracheostomy. Severe tracheal stenosis resulted in hemodynamic deterioration and impairment of respiratory system mechanics. We cared for an 86-year-old man with severe tracheal stenosis due to prolonged placement of a tracheostomy tube for 42-months. At the distal tip of the tracheostomy tube, bronchoscopy revealed severe tracheal luminal obstructions by granulation tissue. During pressure-controlled ventilation, the peak airway pressure was much higher than the inspiratory pressure. For patients with clinical signs of tracheal stenosis after tracheotomy, bronchoscopy should be done as early as possible.