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Percutaneous Dilation of Tracheal Stenosis^*

* From the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases/Critical Care Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX; and the South Texas Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX.

A high-grade complex tracheal stenosis distal to a tracheostomy tube occurred in a patient with a chronic vegetative state. The stenosis was easily and rapidly dilated at bedside using commercially available percutaneous tracheostomy kit dilators. Following tracheal dilation, a larger tracheostomy tube was inserted, resulting in the splinting of the stenotic area. To my knowledge, this is the first report of such a bedside technique for the dilation of a tracheal stenosis through a tracheostomy. This technique may provide a temporary relief from tracheal obstruction as long as the stenosis is within the reach of the dilator.

Key Words: percutaneous tracheostomy • tracheal dilation • tracheal stenosis