Esteller More E, Ibañez Nolla J, Ademá Alcover J M, Ayuso Gatell A, Díaz Boladeras R, León Regidor M A, Orus Dotu C, Robuste Morell J, Nolla Salas M
Servicio de ORL, Hospital General de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès Barcelona.
Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 1995 Mar-Apr;46(2):121-7.
Lesions caused by prolonged intubation and tracheostomy when performed in critically ill patients to keep the airways opened are a permanent topic of discussion between intensive care professionals and otolaryngologists. We present a prospective study of such complications following the guidelines elaborated by the intensive care unit and the otolaryngology department of our hospital. The outcomes obtained in the first-year follow up allow us to verify a high incidence of such lesions in the initial period (87%) and a markedly decreased frequency in the following twelve months (17%). Results also show the relation between prolonged intubation and the appearance of laryngotracheal lesions. We conclude that it is very important to reduce the intubation period by performing an earlier tracheostomy.
