Long-term management of extensive tracheal stenosis due to formic acid chemical burn.

We report on a 26-year-old woman who during early infancy (6 months) suffered from a chemical burn of the skin and upper airways due to spill of formic acid powder. Twenty years after the initial injury, she presented with dyspnea and stridor due to severe tracheal stenosis. Several interventional bronchoscopic manipulations were initiated: incision of the stenotic lesion with Nd:YAG laser and dilatation with a valvuloplasty balloon which enabled silicone stent placement which was subsequently kept in place for 3 years. Complications during the 4th year after stenting led to the successful replacement of this stent by two autoexpandable metallic stents covering the total length of the trachea from the subglottic area to the carina. In post-burn inhalation injuries, a complex inflammatory process may be active for many years after the initial insult. These injuries respond to prolonged tracheal stenting and a conservative approach is recommended.