Estenosis traqueal sintomática post intubación: análisis espirométrico pre y post dilatación terapéutica.

Introduction: Tracheal stenosis (TS) is a complication of endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. Rigid endoscopic dilatation (RED) is the initial treatment in symptomatic TS. Usually these patients have spirometric results that suggest such alteration: flattening of the flow-volume curve (FVC), either in the espiratory, the inspiratory or both curves. Also, quantitative indexes among different spirometric values are correlated suggesting the presence of TS. Objectives: To assess spirometric characteristics in patients who suffer from symptomatic TS due to airway intubation, before and after therapeutic RED. Materials and methods: All RED procedures in patients with symptomatic TS performed between November 2006 and March 2009 were included in the analysis. All included patients should have a spirometry performed before and after tracheal dilatation. Forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), FEV1/PEFR index and FVC morphology were taken into consideration. Results: Twenty five ED were performed in 15 patients with TS. An increase in FEV1 (total and %) and PEFR (total and %) and a decrease in FEV1/PEFR index were observed in the post-dilatation values. The FVC showed an improvement in its morphology through a larger area under the curve because of less flattening in one or both curves. Conclusions: Pre-dilatation spirometry confirmed TS diagnosis using FEV1, PEFR and