A case of post-intubation tracheal stenosis mimicking bronchial asthma: case report

Postintubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) is one of the most frequent causes of lower airways obstruction. Usually, PITS is the consequence of prolonged intubation period, but may occur also after short-term intubation. Diagnosis may be difficult if stridor is not present and the post-extubation period is many years long. Bronchoscopy and CT scanning are the diagnostic gold standard. In some cases, lung function tests may also be helpful. Treatment options include conservative treatment, surgery and endoscopic methods. We present a case report of a 23 year old woman with exercise dyspnoea caused by PITS that was incorrectly treated for bronchial asthma during a 2-years long period. Key words: bronchoscopy - cardiopulmonary exercise testing - postintubation stenosis - tracheal stenosis.