Laryngeal complications of prolonged intubation

In this study, 82 patients who experienced translaryngeal intubation (TLI) for more than four days were prospectively evaluated for laryngeal complications. At the time of extubation or tracheostomy, direct laryngoscopy was performed in these patients and laryngeal damage evaluated. A typical pattern of laryngeal damage was seen, consisting of mucosal ulcerations along the posterior-medial aspects of both vocal cords and varying degrees of laryngeal edema in 77 patients (94 percent). Performance of a tracheostomy and presence of neuromotor activity were associated with the severity of laryngeal damage, but duration of TLI was not. Laryngoscopy was repeated at two-week intervals in 54 patients and laryngeal damage was resolved within four weeks in 63 percent. These 54 patients were evaluated for adverse clinical effects arising from TLI-induced laryngeal pathology and no relationship was found between laryngeal pathology seen at initial laryngoscopy and the development of adverse effects.