Relationship Between Post-Intubation Tracheal Stenosis and Covid-19

Tracheal stenosis (TS) is a serious complication that occurs in approximately 6-22% of patients due to prolonged endotracheal intubation. Cuff hyperinflation of the endotracheal tube, use of large tubes, advanced age, female gender, smoking, obesity, and diabetes are risk factors for TS. The most common and serious complication in COVID-19 patients is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which requires oxygen and ventilation treatments. In the literature, it is reported that 9.8-15.2% of patients need invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The concern of aerosol formation and prone position applications that emerged with the coronavirus pandemic caused delays in tracheostomy decisions and the use of uncontrolled high cuff pressures, paving the way for TS. The capillary perfusion pressure of the tracheal mucosa ranges from 20 to 30 mmHg. A cuff pressure of the endotracheal tube above 30 mmHg causes mucosal ischemia. Cartilage inflammation due to ischemic injury may be partial or full thickness. Depending on the degree of inflammation in the affected tracheal segments, stenosis and even perforation may develop. It is aimed to determine the etiological causes, to determine how much of the total TS cases covid-related TS constitutes, to examine the treatments and patient results in covid/non-covid TS. This study will contribute to the measures that can be taken during and after the care process in the intensive care unit.