Patient characteristics, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment strategies and treatment data
| Patient characteristics | Total | Simple PITS/PTTS | Complex PITS/PTTS | p-value# |
| Patients | 24 | 14 (58.3%) | 10 (41.7%) | |
| Age, years | 55.5 (51–68.75) | 55.5 (50–64.5) | 58(53–69.5) | 0.52 |
| Male | 12 (50%) | 6 (42.9%) | 6 (60%) | 0.68 |
| Female | 12 (50%) | 8 (57.1%) | 4 (40%) | |
| Never-smoker | 17 (71%) | 11 (78.6%) | 6 (60%) | 0.39 |
| Active/former smoker | 7 (29%) | 3 (21.4%) | 4 (40%) | |
| BMI, kg·m−2, mean±sd | 28.8±4.8 | 28.5±5 | 28.8±4.5 | 0.58 |
| Underweight | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Normal weight | 6 (25%) | 4 (28.6%) | 2 (20%) | 0.63 |
| Overweight | 13 (54.2%) | 6 (42.9%) | 7 (70%) | 0.24 |
| Obese | 2 (8.3%) | 1 (7.1%) | 1 (10%) | 0.8 |
| Extremely obese | 3 (12.5%) | 2 (14.2%) | 1 (10%) | 0.75 |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Arterial hypertension | 16 (67%) | 9 (64.3%) | 7 (70%) | 0.77 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 (41.7%) | 5 (35.7%) | 5 (50%) | 0.68 |
| Heart disease | 2 (8.3%) | 2 (14.2%) | 0 | 0.49 |
| Active malignancy | 3 (12.5%) | 2 (14.2%) | 1 (10%) | 0.75 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 1 (4.2%) | 1 (7.1%) | 0 | |
| ICU treatment characteristics | ||||
| Duration of MV, days | 12(10–22.5) | 10 (9–18.5) | 16 (12–24.75) | 0.14 |
| Duration of MV >14 days | 11 (45.8%) | 5 (35.7%) | 6 (60%) | 0.41 |
| Maximum duration of MV, days n | 50 | 50 | 44 | |
| Reintubation | 3 (8.3%) | 2 (14.2%) | 1 (10%) | 0.75 |
| Tracheotomy | 10 (41.7%) | 3 (21.4%) | 7 (70%) | 0.035 |
| Patient presentation | ||||
| Stridor | 11 (45.8%) | 7 (50%) | 4 (40%) | 0.7 |
| Dyspnoea | 12 (50%) | 7 (50%) | 5 (50%) | 1 |
| Food aspiration | 1 (4.2%) | 0 | 1 (10%) | 0.42 |
| Time to symptom onset, days | 34 (14.5–60) | 42 (14.75–60) | 19.5 (7–48.75) | 0.38 |
| Time to PITS diagnosis, days | 15 (2–42) | 30 (11–75) | 8.5 (0.75–33) | 0.1 |
| Initial PITS/PTTS treatment strategy | ||||
| Rigid bronchoscopy | 14 (58.3%) | 12 (85.7%) | 2 (20%) | 0.003 |
| Thoracic surgery | 7 (29.2%) | 1 (7.1%) | 6 (60%) | 0.009 |
| Tracheotomy | 1 (4.2%) | 0 | 1 (10%) | 0.42 |
| Lost to follow-up | 2 (8.3%) | 1 (7.1%) | 1 (10%) | 0.8 |
Data are presented as n (%) or median (interquartile range) unless otherwise stated. PITS: post-intubation tracheal stenosis; PTTS: post-tracheotomy tracheal stenosis; BMI: body mass index; MV: mechanical ventilation. #: Mann–Whitney, Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Bold indicates statistically significant p-values.