Extended ventilator use risky: Doctors

Lucknow: Patients who are put on prolonged ventilator support in intensive care units may develop a life-threatening disease called airway stenosis, and the symptoms could show up weeks after discharge from the hospital, doctors warned during the Indo-US Airway Conclave-2026 on Sunday.ENT surgeon Dr Rakesh Srivastava said that the patient could report a weak or hoarse voice after an ICU stay, and it might not always be part of a normal recovery. "Extended ventilator use can damage the inner lining of the windpipe. During healing, scar tissue may form and narrow the airway, restricting air flow," he said.
"Breathlessness during routine activity after discharge is a key warning sign, and unlike asthma, this condition shows little to no response to inhalers or nebulisers," Dr Dinesh K Chhetri, University of California, said. Dr Doug Sidell from Stanford University advised early airway examination in such patients. He said a simple endoscopic test could identify narrowing and prevent serious complications.