Tracheal stenosis diagnosed on pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan

Akute subglottische Trachealstenose nach Reanimation

Following cardiac arrest a 41-year-old patient was resuscitated for 40 min and required mechanical ventilation for 27.5 h. Acute shortness of breath and inspiratory stridor developed 7 days after successful extubation. Bronchoscopy revealed a subtotal tracheal stenosis caused by extensive fibrinous membranes. Local ischaemia caused by cuff pressure seems to be a likely explanation with an additional component of general hypoperfusion and haemodynamic instability which led to gastric bleeding (classification according to Forrest IIc) from ischaemic ulcers.