The Role of Multidetector CT Virtual Bronchoscopy in

The Incidence of laryngotracheal stenosis is increasing nowadays due to increasing incidence of prolonged endotracheal intubations with increasing incidence of polytrauma, neurovascular accidents, and complex surgical procedures with subsequent intensive care units admission, intubation with or without ventilation. Improvement in the protocols of intensive care increased the numbers of patients discharged who then suffer from the development of tracheal stenosis which is an inevitable result of prolonged endotracheal intubation especially with high pressure cuffs [1]. Various factors other than prolonged endotracheal intubation are responsible for laryngotracheal stenosis including high tracheostomies, tracheostomy with excessive cartilage removal, infection following tracheostomy, use of improper size of tracheostomy tube and granulomatous diseases of the laryngotracheal tract (like scleroma or Wagner’s granulomatosis). Although rare, congenital subglottic stenosis remains an important etiological factor, which needs proper planning and decision-making. Several surgical procedures have been used to treat laryngotracheal stenosis. Choice of procedure depends upon age of patient, site of stenosis, nature of stenosis, etiology and general condition of patient [2].