Post-extubation stridor: risk factors and outcome.

Post-extubation stridor is a potential complication of endotracheal intubation. The incidence, risk factors, and outcome in adult patient populations are poorly defined. It was our clinical impression that the occurrence of post-extubation stridor in our medical intensive care unit was more frequent than generally reported. We therefore monitored all intubated patients to determine the incidence of post-extubation stridor and to identify any predisposing factors. All adult patients requiring endotracheal intubation and medical intensive care admission were prospectively observed over a 5-month period in a university-affiliated medical intensive care unit. Sixty-seven patients requiring intubation and medical intensive care admission were evaluated. Twenty-two patients were excluded from analysis because no extubation was attempted. The remaining 45 patients were divided into two groups: 8 with and 37 without post-extubation stridor. Of the parameters analyzed, cuff pressure, treatment with corticosteroids at the time of extubation, and the presence of a primary neurologic process necessitating intubation differed significantly between groups. Six of the 8 patients who developed post-extubation stridor required reintubation. Four of these patients were subsequently successfully extubated, one required tracheostomy, and one patient died after a 2-week deteriorating clinical course. The incidence of significant stridor in our population was 17.8%. Medical management was successful in the majority of patients with post-extubation stridor. Routine tracheostomy following a single episode of post-extubation stridor is not indicated. Further investigation regarding risk factors and a placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids before extubation in individuals at risk for developing post-extubation stridor are needed.