Introduction and importance Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that spread rapidly throughout the world and became a major public health concern. Approximately 5–12% of COVID-19 patients require admission to the intensive-care unit (ICU), where they often require oxygen therapy and prolonged intubation. Post-intubation laryngotracheal stenosis (PILS) is a complication that occurs in 10–22% of non-COVID-19 patients after prolonged intubation, while the rate of COVID-19 related PILS remains unknown. Additionally, there is still no consensus in the literature regarding the management modalities for PILS following COVID-19. Case presentation Here we report two cases of tracheal stenosis after prolonged intubation due to severe COVID-19 infection. The first patient was admitted to the ICU and intubated for 21 days; 3 months after discharge, he developed a 3 cm long tracheal stenosis that narrowed 70% of the lumen. The second patient was intubated for 2 months and, 4 months after discharge, developed a 2.5 cm long tracheal stenosis that narrowed 80% of the lumen. Clinical discussion In both cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan and Rigid bronchoscopy; then, they were managed successfully with tracheal resection and reconstruction by end-to-end anastomosis. Conclusion In conclusion, we would like to highlight the importance of suspecting PILS in recovered COVID-19 patients re-presenting with breathing difficulties following weaning from mechanical ventilation; therefore, careful follow-up in such patients is required. Moreover, we would like to point out that the management of tracheal stenosis after COVID-19 appears to be similar to that of tracheal stenosis in general. Highlights • Tracheal stenosis (TS) is a rare complication that follows prolonged intubation. • Prolonged intubation causes tracheal wall damage, which leads to TS. • Suspect TS in recovered ICU-admitted COVID-19 patient re-presenting with dyspnea. • Stenosis length, severity, and location are essential in the management plan. • Consider non-surgical procedures in patients with “thin and young” stenoses.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Case report, stenosis, Resection, PILS, 【초록키워드】 public health, Coronavirus disease 2019, severity, Diagnosis, intubation, discharge, ICU, Spread, clinical, management, CT scan, Dyspnea, Patient, Oxygen therapy, Follow-up, Admission, Prolonged, COVID-19 patient, tracheal stenosis, Severe COVID-19 Infection, Consensus, Intubated, pandemic disease, breathing difficulty, recovered COVID-19 patient, highlight, required, appear, occur, cause, tracheal, laryngotracheal stenosis, non-COVID-19 patient, 【제목키워드】 severe COVID-19, tracheal,