The pathology of neonatal endotracheal intubation and its relationship to subglottic stenosis

Abstract

The most common serious long-term consequence of neonatal endotracheal intubation is acquired subglottic stenosis (SGS). The incidence in intubated infants is variously reported as between one and eleven per cent but this may be a relatively high range, reflecting the interest of the reporting centres and the various methods of diagnosis. (Fearon et al., 1966; Parkin et al., 1916; Strong and Passy, 1977; Papsidero and Pashley, 1980; Jones et al., 1981; Sherman et al., 1986). In one study conducted at University College Hospital London (UCH) we reported an incidence of 1.8 per cent of SGS in all intubated neonates in a three year period (1981-83); if only survivors were considered the incidence was 2.6 per cent (Quiney and Gould, 1985). The relatively high incidence during this particular time focussed our attention on SGS and the factors which might precipitate its occurrence.