Subjects diagnosed with laryngotracheal stenosis (ICD-9: 478.74, 519.19) between January 1, 1998 and January 1, 2013 were identified. Those with a history of tracheal malignancy or isolated laryngeal stenosis were excluded. Laryngeal and tracheal stenosis share an association with both prolonged endotracheal intubation, and many of the same comorbid medical risk factors. However, isolated laryngeal stenosis remains a distinct anatomic and structural injury with a unique treatment algorithm, meriting dedicated independent study, and is not discussed in the present work. Patients meeting inclusion were grouped into 4 categories based on stenosis etiology: idiopathic, iatrogenic, autoimmune, and polytrauma (Table 1).

Idiopathic: No history of significant laryngotracheal injury. No significant history of endotracheal intubation or tracheotomy within 2 years of the presentation. No thyroid or major anterior neck surgery. No neck irradiation. No caustic or thermal injuries to the laryngotracheal complex. No history of vasculitis. Negative titers for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and antinuclear cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). The lesion must involve the subglottis.

Iatrogenic: Patients that developed subglottic or tracheal stenosis following tracheostomy. Or subglottic or tracheal stenosis developing within 2 years of intubation.

Autoimmune: Patients with documented clinical along with serologic and/or histologic diagnosis of Wegener’s (GPA), Relapsing Polychondritis (RPC), Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), Sarcoidosis, or Amyloidosis

Polytrauma: Patients presenting with Laryngotracheal stenosis following documented traumatic injuries involving multiple organ systems.