Early endoscopic findings of the upper respiratory and digestive tract in patients undergoing translaryngeal intubation for more than 24 hours
Vila Martín, J.; Bosque, M.; Ramis, B.; Quesada, P.; García López, M.
Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola 49(8): 640-643
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6519 PMID: 9951085 Document Number: 487209
The large number of patients undergoing translaryngeal intubation justifies acquiring full knowledge of the complications that this invasive procedure may produce. The short-term problems that cause immediate complications (esophageal intubation, cuff rupture) are severe and do not escape notice. However, less immediate problems often pass undetected, although their presence may worsen the patient's outcome. Endoscopy allows the condition of the upper respiratory and digestive tract to be examined in order to detect and correct such problems. In this preliminary study, risk factors are analyzed and the lesions are described, classified, and quantified. Forty-seven adult patients were studied prospectively. In the first 24 to 48 hours of intubation, rigid endoscopy was performed under sedation using 0 degree and 30 degrees rigid endoscopes. The high rate of glottic edema (63.8%) was noteworthy because knowledge of this condition can be vital for preventing extubation failure.