Inadequate ventilation in a patient with tracheal stenosis due to previous intubation.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often visit the emergency department due to exacerbation of their disease condition or the development of pneumonia. Tracheal stenosis is a rare but fatal condition if not diagnosed and treated promptly. We report the successful diagnosis and management of tracheal stenosis in a patient with a history of intubation three months prior to her index presentation.