Abstract
Background
Endotracheal intubation is commonly used in (ICU) for different causes. However, intubation/extubation may lead to the development of complications such as post-extubation stridor (PES), one of the most frequent causes of reintubation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and increased morbidity in the ICU patients. PES and upper-airway obstruction are multifactorial in etiology and can occur as a result of laryngotracheal edema, intubation trauma, excessive cuff pressure with mucosal ulceration, and prolonged intubation with secondary inflammation and granuloma formation.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of laryngeal ultrasonography versus cuff leak test in predicting post-extubation stridor.
Patients and Methods
Our study included fifty patients admitted to the critical care department, Misr University for Science and Technology Hospitals from the period of November 2017 to July 2018 intubated for different causes for a minimum of 24 h. excluded patients primarily intubated for the upper airway obstruction, patients with laryngeal carcinoma, Previous tracheostomy, neck radiotherapy. All patients will undergo for laryngeal ultrasonography versus cuff leak test to predict post-extubation stridor.
Results
In our study CLT identified PES patients with a sensitivity of 75%. But with low PPV of 50% for leakage volume of (132.5 mm ) . Laryngeal ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 50% for those patients with air column width before deflation less than 10.955 mm and ACWD 0.905 mm with PPV of 11.8% and 14.3% for air column width and ACWD respectively
Conclusion
Both CLT (Cuff leak test) and laryngeal US (ultrasound) might have sensitivity in predicting PES and should be used with caution in this regard.
Cuff Leak Test for the Diagnosis of Upper Airway Edema