Russek-Portales B, Blanco-Rodríguez G, Álvarez-Neri H, Teyssier-Morales G, Vázquez-Frías R, López-Virgen É, Penchyna-Grub J

Language: Spanish
References: 4
Page: 127-137
PDF size: 572.38 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Recent technological advances have permitted the creation and development of intensive care units. This has allowed the appearance of a new group of airway diseases, all in relation to its manipulation with intubations that the patients are subject to in those units. Methodology: We developed a descriptive, longitudinal, and prolective study, in which we documented endoscopic airway findings in patients with long-term intubation, just after tracheostomy was performed. We compared images between the initial study and those obtained one month after tracheostomy was done. Results: We included 15 patients in our study, there were a total of 26 airway endoscopies performed. Intubation day-count range was 8-283, with a mean of 41 days. In the initial study, 100% presented arytenoid inflammatory changes, and 40% remained with inflammation at follow-up endoscopy. The second most frequent finding was vocal cord edema. Eleven patients had positive findings at the sub-glottic space in the initial study; only 3 patients developed sub-glottic stenosis at follow-up. One patient developed tracheal stenosis, even though the initial tracheal findings were negative. Conclusion: We consider it necessary to establish routine endoscopic airway follow-up in all patients with prolonged intubation.

REFERENCES

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