Prevention of postintubation laryngotracheal stenosis

Laryngotracheal complications after translaryngeal intubation and specifically tracheotomy are a common problem. Surgical correction of PITS is not always successful. Pathogenetic mechanisms of PITS are direct pressure necrosis by overinflated endotracheal tube and cuff material, duration of intubation, macro- and microtrauma during intubation, the specific technique of endotracheal intubation, severity of respiratory failure, infection and poor tissue perfusion due to hemodynamic instability. Following preventive guidelines are proposed: the use of high volume low pressure cuffs, cuff pressure monitoring, ventilatory support with lower airway pressures, prevention of macrotrauma during intubation and microtrauma during maintenance, adapted policy of choice between translaryngeal and tracheotomy techniques, anti-infectious strategy and swift hemodynamic stabilization.