Case Report: Tracheal stenosis due to fibrotic bridges in a post-tracheostomy COVID-19 patient

Lina Zuccatosta; Borja Recalde Zamacona; Francesco Porcarelli; Federico Mei; Francesca Gonnelli; Stefano Gasparini; Alessandro Di Marco Berardino

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.1025894

Case Report: Tracheal stenosis due to fibrotic bridges in a post-tracheostomy COVID-19 patient

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Oct 25:9:1025894. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1025894. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Lina Zuccatosta¹, Borja Recalde Zamacona^{1

2}, Francesco Porcarelli¹, Federico Mei^{1

3}, Francesca Gonnelli¹, Stefano Gasparini^{1

3}, Alessandro Di Marco Berardino¹

Affiliations

¹ S.O.D. di Pneumologia, Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Ancona, Italy.
² Interventional Pulmonology Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
³ Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.

Abstract

Tracheal stenosis is a common complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy, that can be classified as simple (without cartilage involvement) or complex (with cartilaginous support involvement). We report a case of a post-COVID-19 tracheal stenosis with fibrotic bridges between the tracheal walls, creating a net within the lumen and causing significant respiratory distress. The absence of cartilaginous support involvement allowed a definitive bronchoscopic treatment with complete and permanent resolution of stenosis.

Keywords: COVID-19; case report; laser therapy; tracheal stenosis; tracheostomy.

Publication types

Case Reports