Videolaryngoscopic evaluation of laryngeal intubation injury: incidence and predictive factors

Tracheal tube size in adults undergoing elective surgery - a narrative review

Tracheal tubes are routinely used in adults undergoing elective surgery. The size of the tracheal tube, defined by its internal diameter, is often generically selected according to sex, with 7-7.5 mm and 8-8.5 mm tubes recommended in women and men, respectively. Tracheal diameter in adults is highly variable, being narrowest at the subglottis, and is affected by height and sex. The outer diameter of routinely used tracheal tubes may exceed these dimensions, traumatise the airway and increase the risk of postoperative sore throat and hoarseness. These complications disproportionately affect women and may be mitigated by using smaller tracheal tubes (6-6.5 mm). Patient safety concerns about using small tracheal tubes are based on critical care populations undergoing prolonged periods of tracheal intubation and not patients undergoing elective surgery. The internal diameter of the tube corresponds to its clinical utility. Tracheal tubes as small as 6.0 mm will accommodate routinely used intubation aids, suction devices and slim-line fibreoptic bronchoscopes. Positive pressure ventilation may be performed without increasing the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury or air trapping, even when high minute volumes are required. There is also no demonstrable increased risk of aspiration or cuff pressure damage when using smaller tracheal tubes. Small tracheal tubes may not be safe in all patients, such as those with high secretion loads and airflow limitation. A balanced view of risks and benefits should be taken appropriate to the clinical context, to select the smallest tracheal tube that permits safe peri-operative management.

Voice and Vocal Fold Condition Following Short-Term General Anesthesia: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Dysphonia, with or without laryngeal changes, has been reported as a complication following prolonged intubation. In contrast, it is unknown if laryngeal changes also occur following short-term airway instrumentation. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of laryngeal changes in patients undergoing short-term routine general anesthesia using an endotracheal tube (ETT) or supraglottic airway (SGA), and to identify predictors to these changes.

METHODS

Standardized voice assessments were performed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at follow-up on adults undergoing general anesthesia for an elective procedure of less than three hours requiring an ETT or a SGA. The standardized voice assessment protocol comprised a rigid videolaryngostroboscopy, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and acoustic voice analysis. The effects of demographic and anesthetic characteristics and type of airway instrumentation on the videolaryngostroboscopic variables were studied using multilevel logistic regression. Multilevel linear regression was used to reveal preoperative versus postoperative changes in VHI and acoustic voice scores.

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalence of postoperative laryngeal changes was low. Significant postoperative laryngeal changes were found for the variables right-sided vocal fold redness in the ETT group (P = 0.048) and right-sided vocal fold blood vessels in both groups (ETT versus SGA). However, after adjustment for all demographic and anesthetic characteristics in the regression model, the effect of the type of airway instrumentation (ETT versus SGA) on the variable right-sided vocal fold redness was no longer significant.

CONCLUSIONS

ETT and SGA short-term airway instrumentation are vocal fold function sparing techniques with negligible laryngeal changes.

Risk factors for laryngeal trauma and granuloma formation in pediatric intubations

OBJECTIVE

Intubation has been associated with laryngeal injury that often resolves spontaneously without complication. We present a case of a child intubated for less than 48 hours, who presented with dysphonia and intermittent dyspnea two months after intubation due to epiglottic and vocal process granulomas. This is unusual in that multiple granulomas were found in the posterior glottis and supraglottis after short-term intubation. Our objective was to determine if there are risk factors for developing persistent post-intubation sequelae, including the delayed presentation and unusual location of post-intubation granulomas in our case.

STUDY DESIGN

Case report and systematic literature review.

METHODS

Pubmed database, which is inclusive of MEDLINE, was used to perform a literature review with the search terms ((pediatric OR children OR neonatal OR infant) AND (laryngeal OR supraglottic) AND intubation AND (granuloma OR injury OR complication)). Only English language results were reviewed. Titles and abstracts from 379 results were reviewed. Full text was reviewed from all original studies which included human pediatric subjects and endoscopic examinations after endotracheal intubation.

RESULTS

In our case, laryngeal granuloma size reduced significantly after starting anti-reflux medications. The remainder was removed with laryngeal microdebrider with no recurrence at 3 weeks and 2.5 years post-operatively. Overall, 28 of the 379 studies reviewed identified evidence of laryngeal trauma due to intubation, however only 6 studies documented any type of supraglottic injury. Risk factors identified for developing post-intubation sequelae included intubation duration greater than 24 h; trauma to the larynx via various mechanisms including traumatic intubation, need for reintubation and tube changes, and increased movement while intubated; and presence of respiratory tract infection during intubation.

CONCLUSION

Trauma to the larynx during intubation should be avoided to minimize post-intubation injury in pediatric patients, by using appropriate intubation protocols, endotracheal tube size, and adequate sedation.

[16 years of experience in laryngeal microsurgery with use laser CO₂: cooperation between laryngologist and anesthesiologist - in material of ENT Department of Silesian Medical University]

Laryngeal microsurgery is currently the primary method of treatment of many diseases of the larynx. Breakthrough for the development of laryngeal microsurgery was the introduction of laser technology. The laryngeal microsurgery is used mainly laser CO₂. Endoscopic laryngeal microsurgery using the laser poses a unique challenge to the anesthesiologist, ensuring safe conditions of anesthesia, the patient and simultaneously appropriate operating conditions for the surgeon for precisely perform the procedure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 1995 and 2010 carried out in the Department of Otolaryngology SUM 832 microsurgical operations of the larynx using a CO₂ laser.

CONCLUSION

The perioperative management and close cooperation with the surgeon and anesthesiologist are essential for safe and efficient conduct of the operation the larynx using a microsurgical CO₂ laser.

Diagnosis and management of chronic laryngitis associated with reflux

Chronic laryngitis symptoms are commonly seen in otherwise healthy people. This article reviews recent progress in our understanding and effective treatment of chronic laryngitis. Clinical experience and prospective treatment and outcome studies have demonstrated objective evidence of the efficacy of treating patients with chronic laryngitis symptoms with nocturnal antireflux precautions and acid-suppressing medications. The role of pH testing and most common errors in treatment are reviewed.

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Case report

The authors report a rare case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACD/F) in a patient who had a preexisting, clinically silent, and unrecognized unilateral vocal cord paralysis from a remote cardiac surgical procedure. The patient, a 41-year-old woman who developed acute respiratory stridor and respiratory insufficiency at the time of extubation after undergoing a C6-7 ACD/F, required emergency reintubation and ventilation. Otolaryngological evaluation revealed bilateral vocal cord paralysis with one vocal cord showing evidence of acute paralysis and the other showing evidence of chronic paralysis. She eventually required a permanent tracheotomy. The patient had undergone previous cardiac surgical procedures to correct Fallot's tetralogy as a neonate and as a child. At those times, there were no recognized symptoms of transient or permanent vocal cord dysfunction. This case emphasizes the importance of identifying patients with preexisting unilateral vocal cord paralysis before performing neurosurgical procedures such as ACD/F, which can place the only functioning vocal cord at risk for paralysis. Guidelines for identifying patients with preexisting unilateral vocal cord paralysis and for modifying the surgical procedure for ACD/F to prevent the catastrophic complication of bilateral vocal cord paralysis are discussed.

Laryngeal injuries after short- versus long-term intubation

Forty-five patients were seen over a 5-year period with laryngeal injuries following endotracheal intubation (ETI). The mean duration of ETI was 5.6 days (2 hours to 37 days). Patients intubated for less than 24 hours were most likely to present with a vocal fold immobility or an anterior glottic web. Long-term intubation was associated with the development of subglottic stenoses and granulomas. Patients with vocal fold immobility were seen more often after ETI for surgical reasons and had a significantly higher incidence of previous intubation and tobacco usage. Subglottic stenoses were seen in younger patients intubated for medical reasons and associated with nasogastric tubes and longer periods of intubation.