A 49-year-old man suffering from depression attempts suicide by jumping out of the window of his third-floor apartment. He requires multiple operations during a prolonged, complicated hospital stay. Endotracheal intubation is attempted in the ICU but is unsuccessful because of tracheal stenosis, which is attributed to which of the following?
High-Yield Explanation
Any object that compromises the blood supply to the tracheal mucosa or cartilage can cause stenosis. When the mean intramural pressure exceeds 20-30 mm Hg over a prolonged period, damage occurs.