Subglottic Stenosis following prolonged endotracheal intubation in the Intensive Care Unit: Two Case Studies and a review of the literature

Subglottic stenosis secondary to prolonged endotracheal intubation is associated with severe airway obstruction and a subsequent increase in morbidity in intubated patients. It is a recognized, although preventable, complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation. Here, we describe two cases of subglottic stenosis following prolonged endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit, followed by a review of the literature on iatrogenic subglottic stenosis.

From our two cases, we identified three factors that contributed to the development of subglottic stenosis in intubated patients. These factors include (1) prolonged endotracheal intubation of more than 12 days, (2) the use of cuffed endotracheal tubes, and (3) younger age.

We conclude that it is therefore imperative to consider these factors when performing endotracheal intubation on patients admitted to the intensive care unit.