Postintubation croup is primarily associated with:

Postintubation croup is primarily associated with subglottic inflammation, which occurs due to irritation and injury to the tissues in the subglottic area of the airway following prolonged intubation. When an endotracheal tube is in place, especially if it is inflated and presses against the tracheal walls, it can cause ischemia and inflammation. This leads to the characteristic symptoms of croup, such as stridor and hoarseness. The subglottic region is particularly vulnerable because it is the narrowest part of the airway in children, making it more prone to swelling and complications after intubation.

While inflammation of tracheal tissues is a concern, it does not capture the specific nature of postintubation croup as accurately as subglottic inflammation does. The timing of extubation can play a role but isn't the primary factor leading to postintubation croup on its own, and the use of cuffed endotracheal tubes can be related to the injury but is not a definitive cause of the croup itself.