Traumatic intubation: An under-recognized cause of dysphagia

Dysphagia is a common complaint, which can have a profound impact on a patient’s health and quality of life. In the surgical patient, endotracheal intubation can result in trauma to structures of the upper aerodigestive tract, which may manifest as a variety of complaints, including dysphagia. In some cases, dysphagia may develop gradually over the course of several months following intubation, and thus may be misdiagnosed or mistakenly associated with other comorbid conditions. Herein, we present a perplexing case of a prior traumatic intubation leading to the development of dysphagia in an elderly woman as a result of progressive enlargement of a fibrovascular lesion likely occurring through the process of normal deglutition. This case highlights traumatic intubation as a potential and underrecognized cause of dysphagia that may elude even experienced clinicians. In the setting of dysphagia without other apparent etiologies, a patient’s medical records should be extensively reviewed for a history of difficult intubation or peri-intubation complaints.