Post-mortem study of laryngotracheal lesions produced by prolonged intubation and/or tracheotomy

Injuries of the laryngotracheal axis caused by prolonged intubation in critically ill patients raise the issue of the timing of tracheotomy in intubated patients. In 1992 a prospective study was begun in intensive care patients with intubation lasting more than 48 hours. Eight months later, post-mor...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inActa otorrinolaringológica española Vol. 48; no. 7; p. 545
Main Authors Esteller Moré, E, Ibáñez-Nolla, J, García-Hernández, F, Carrasco-García, M A, León-Regidor, M A, Díaz-Boladeras, R M, Orus-Dotu, C, Ademà-Alcover, J M, Nolla-Salas, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageItalian
Published Spain 01.10.1997
Subjects
Adult
Autopsy
Female
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Intubation, Intratracheal - adverse effects
Larynx - injuries
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Trachea - injuries
Tracheotomy - adverse effects
Wounds and Injuries - diagnosis
Wounds and Injuries - etiology
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Injuries of the laryngotracheal axis caused by prolonged intubation in critically ill patients raise the issue of the timing of tracheotomy in intubated patients. In 1992 a prospective study was begun in intensive care patients with intubation lasting more than 48 hours. Eight months later, post-mortem data on the laryngotracheal axis of deceased patients was added to our prospective study protocol. The study was closed with 125 cases (52 deceased). The clinical data of 73 surviving patients was compared with that of 18 post-mortem cases. The macroscopic results of the post-mortem study are summarized by grading the lesions according to a personal modification of the Lindholm classification. All cases had laryngotracheal injuries. Only 15% of the lesions were located in the tracheal region. Five cases were classified as grade 2, with an average orotracheal intubation of 9 days, 9 cases as grade 3 with 15 days intubation, and 4 cases as grade 4 with 21 days intubation. We concluded that the severity of laryngotracheal injuries in the early post-mortem exploration was related with the duration of intubation.
ISSN:0001-6519