Early laryngeal outcome of prolonged intubation using an anatomical tube: a double blind, randomised study.

The objective of this study was to study the short-term impact on larynx by a newly designed anatomical tube. A prospective randomised trial of a newly designed anatomical tube versus a standard endotracheal tube in patients operated under general anaesthesia for at least 12 h. Seventy adults were included and randomised to either type of tube. The patients were evaluated by means of fibre-optic laryngoscopy and VAS-rating of symptoms on two occasions in the first post-operative week. The evaluating investigators and the patients were blinded to the type of tube used. 27 cases and 23 controls had complete data for evaluation. Age, gender and intubation times were comparable. Symptoms such as hoarseness, coughing, and pain were rated above 30 % of maximum during at least one of the first post-operative days by 21 and 19 patients, respectively. At the first examination (within 24 h), 38 % of patients in the anatomical tube group stated no hoarseness; compared to 13 % of the controls (p = 0.057). Fibre-optic laryngoscopy showed some kind of pathology in all the patients examined within 24 h of extubation. After 3-6 days, seven patients with the anatomical tube and four patients in the control group showed complete resolution of the lesions, and the changes were limited to redness in the vocal process area in another seven and four, respectively. The differences between the groups did not attain statistical significance. The study shows considerable short-term laryngeal morbidity after prolonged intubation, and the anatomical tube only showed an advantage concerning hoarseness. Further improvement of the endotracheal tubes and intubation routines are still needed.

Systematic direct laryngoscopy: the Lindholm laryngoscopes.

The authors, each with 40 years of experience in laryngology, aim to lay out the general principles and details of a systematic method of direct laryngoscopy for adults, children, and infants. Advances in laryngoscope design and application, advantages of telescopes, use of the operating microscope, and principles of modem anesthesia are highlighted. Particular reference is made to classification of laryngoscopes, advantages of Lindholm laryngoscopes, suspension laryngoscopy, the principles of biopsy, and problems of laryngoscopy. The difficult airway and the obstructed airway are discussed in detail. With the recent renewed interest in investigation and treatment of laryngeal problems and a better understanding of laryngeal physiology and voice production, the future will, no doubt, see new procedures to treat and restore laryngeal function. The fundamentals in this report form a basis for direct laryngoscopy, endolaryngeal microsurgery, laser surgery, and phonosurgery.

New design of a tracheostomy-cricothyroidostomy tube.

In an attempt to minimize late airway stenosis, a new tube with an oval cross-section has been developed. Two to three tracheal cartilage arches are usually incised anteriorly, partially excised or inadvertently broken to fit a tracheostomy tube. The risk of post-tracheostomy stenosis seems to be greater when several cartilages have been involved. If an oval tube with the shortest diameter in its symmetry plane is used, the tissue defect along the longitudinal axis of the trachea will be shorter than that caused by a round tube. When such a stoma is healing, the adjacent intact tracheal cartilages, which are located fairly close to each other, will support the bridging scar tissue, thereby preventing collapse of the tracheal wall. The tubes come in three lengths to fit most neck sizes. An oval trial tube with the same length as the shortest one has been used for cricothyroidostomy--the aim being to spread the cricoid and thyroid cartilages apart as little as possible. A series of 23 patients were treated with this tube. At follow-up, no stenosis was found at flexible fiberoptic laryngo-tracheoscopy. Fifteen patients reported no voice change, and five, who were singers, experienced lower pitch, but four of them were still singing. None of these five patients had speech problems. The other three patients had voice problems when speaking. One of these had chronic bronchitis and another had had a stroke. The third one had a rough voice. The voice problems were milder than those reported from previous series.