A Case of Delayed Laryngeal Stenosis after Inhalation Injury

Abstract

We herein report the case of a patient with delayed laryngeal stenosis caused by an inhalation injury. The patient was a 24-year-old male who suffered a burn to 17% of the body surface area of his body and a severe inhalation injury. He was intubated for 10 days until his laryngeal edema improved. Three months after the injury, he started to complain of respiratory distress which was found to be caused by posterior glottic adhesion. After surgery, his vocal cord movement showed sufficient improvement and the respiratory symptom disappeared. However, he started to complain of respiratory distress again. The cause of the complaint was found to be circumferential subglottic stenosis. A T-tube was placed to prevent subglottic stenosis for 30 months before the tracheostomy was closed. Subglottic restenosis has not been observed thus far, however, a continuous and careful follow-up is required.