Epilepsy combined with post intubation tracheal stenosis: case report and literature review

Abstract Background One of the most frequent neurological emergencies in clinical practice is status epilepticus for which endotracheal intubation or tracheotomy are typically the emergency treatments. Invasive tracheal manipulation inevitably causes variable degrees of tracheal damage. Following therapy with tracheal intubation or tracheotomy, patients may develop post-intubation tracheal stenosis. This uncommon ailment may develop following an extended period of intubation. Case presentation We report a male patient, 19, who was diagnosed with severe PITS three weeks post-intubation and was in the phase of epileptic seizures. Due to significant tracheal stenosis with a low anatomical location, we would not be able to perform emergency therapy by tracheotomy or tracheal intubation if the epilepsy worsened respiratory dysfunction. Ultimately, the choice was made to set up the patient's emergency hospital transfer for treatment. Conclusion Combining epilepsy with PITS is an unmanageable, potentially fatal disease with a very high death risk if treatment is not received in a timely manner.Particularly with patients with neurologic disorders, physicians should not be too empirical to focus solely on the head examination at the exclusion of the assessment of airway integrity.because the early symptoms of PITS are not obvious. Early diagnosis and individualized treatment play a key role, all of which improve patients' chances of survival.