title: "Corkscrew stenosis": defining and preventing a complication of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The short-term safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy has been widely demonstrated. However, less is known about their long-term complications. Through an illustrative case series, we present and define "corkscrew stenosis," a type of tracheal stenosis uniquely associated with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients treated at our institution for tracheal stenosis after percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy were reviewed. Demographic data including gender, age, history of presentation, lesion morphology, imaging, and management was collected and evaluated. The pathology of the stenosis and the strategies for prevention are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January, 2008 through December 2011, 11 patients had tracheal stenosis after percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. The mean age was 54 ± 17 years and 55% were male. The stenotic lesions were characterized by a corkscrew morphology at the stoma site with a mean distance of 2.3 ± 0.8 cm from the vocal cords. Images of these lesions demonstrated disruption and fracture of the proximal tracheal cartilages and displacement of the anterior tracheal wall into the tracheal lumen. The majority of our patients required tracheal resection for definitive repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that a unique form of tracheal stenosis can result from percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. We observed corkscrew stenosis to be located proximally, associated with fractured tracheal rings, and morphologically appearing as interdigitation of these fractured rings. Recognizing corkscrew stenosis, its unique mechanism of formation, and technical means of prevention may be important in advancing the long-term safety of this procedure for critically ill patients who require prolonged ventilatory support.
authors: Department of Surgery, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA. jvjacobs@gmail.com
authors: Jordan V
authors: JV
authors: Jacobs
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Hill
authors: Scott R
authors: SR
authors: Petersen
authors: Ross M
authors: RM
authors: Bremner
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Sue
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004106:Dilatation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*