Manejo del fracaso de la extubación en la unidad de terapia intensiva pediátrica / Management of extubation failure in the pediatric intensive care unit / Gestão de falha de extubação na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica

El fracaso de la extubación es la incapacidad de tolerar el retiro del tubo endotraqueal con necesidad de reintubación. Puede ser causada por la obstrucción de la vía aérea superior y por la aspiración o la incapacidad de manejar las secreciones, factores que se evidencian al retirar el tubo. La reintubación por fracaso respiratorio post-extubación debe ser evitada en lo posible, ya que aumenta el riesgo de neumonía asociada al respirador, la estancia hospitalaria y en terapia intensiva, y la morbimortalidad. Describimos el manejo del fracaso de la extubación de causa laríngea en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva de un hospital pediátrico.

Extubation failure is the inability to tolerate removal of the endotracheal tube with subsequent reintubation. It can be caused by obstruction of the upper airway and aspiration or inadequate clearance of airway secretion, factors that become evident when removing the tube. Reintubation due to postextubation respiratory failure should be avoided if possible because it increases the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia, hospital and intensive care unit stay, and morbidity and mortality. We describe the management of failed extubation due to laryngeal cause in the Intensive Care Unit of a pediatric hospital.

Falha de extubação é a incapacidade de tolerar a remoção do tubo endotraqueal na necessidade de reintubação. Ela pode ser causada por obstrução das vias aéreas superiores e aspiração ou incapacidade para lidar com secreções, factores que são evidentes para remover o tubo. Reintubação devido a insuficiência respiratória pós-extubação deve ser evitada, se possível, porque aumenta o risco de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica, permanência hospitalar e terapia, morbidade e mortalidade. Nós descrevemos a gestão de extubação falhou devido à causa da laringe na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva de um hospital pediátrico.

[Head and neck intensity-modulated radiation therapy: Normal tissues dose constraints. Pharyngeal constrictor muscles and larynx]. / Radiothérapie conformationnelle avec modulation d'intensité des cancers des voies aérodigestives supérieures : dose de tolérance des tissus sains. Muscles constricteurs du pharynx et larynx.

Radio-induced pharyngolaryngeal chronic disorders may challenge the quality of life of head and neck cancer long survivors. Many anatomic structures have been identified as potentially impaired by irradiation and responsible for laryngeal edema, dysphonia and dysphagia. Some dose constraints might be plausible such as keeping the mean dose to the pharyngeal constrictor muscles under 50 to 55Gy, the mean dose to the supra-glottic larynx under 40 to 45Gy and, if feasible, the mean dose to the glottic larynx under 20Gy. A reduction of the dose delivered to the muscles of the floor of the mouth and the cervical esophagus would be beneficial as well. Nevertheless, the publications available do not provide an extensive enough level of proof. One should consider limiting as low as possible the dose delivered to these structures without compromising the quality of irradiation of the target tumor volumes.

Evaluating Risk Factors for Pediatric Post-extubation Upper Airway Obstruction Using a Physiology-based Tool.

RATIONALE: Subglottic edema is the most common cause of pediatric extubation failure, but few studies have confirmed risk factors or prevention strategies. This may be due to subjective assessment of stridor or inability to differentiate supraglottic from subglottic disease. OBJECTIVES: Objective 1 was to assess the utility of calibrated respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) and esophageal manometry to identify clinically significant post-extubation upper airway obstruction (UAO) and differentiate subglottic from supraglottic UAO. Objective 2 was to identify risk factors for subglottic UAO, stratified by cuffed versus uncuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs). METHODS: We conducted a single-center prospective study of children receiving mechanical ventilation. UAO was defined by inspiratory flow limitation (measured by RIP and esophageal manometry) and classified as subglottic or supraglottic based on airway maneuver response. Clinicians performed simultaneous blinded clinical UAO assessment at the bedside. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 409 children were included, 98 of whom had post-extubation UAO and 49 (12%) of whom were subglottic. The reintubation rate was 34 (8.3%) of 409, with 14 (41%) of these 34 attributable to subglottic UAO. Five minutes after extubation, RIP and esophageal manometry better identified patients who subsequently received UAO treatment than clinical UAO assessment (P < 0.006). Risk factors independently associated with subglottic UAO included low cuff leak volume or high preextubation leak pressure, poor sedation, and preexisting UAO (P < 0.04) for cuffed ETTs; and age (range, 1 mo to 5 yr) for uncuffed ETTs (P < 0.04). For uncuffed ETTs, the presence or absence of preextubation leak was not associated with subglottic UAO. CONCLUSIONS: RIP and esophageal manometry can objectively identify subglottic UAO after extubation. Using this technique, preextubation leak pressures or cuff leak volumes predict subglottic UAO in children, but only if the ETT is cuffed.

Identification of Patient Benefit From Proton Therapy for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients Based on Individual and Subgroup Normal Tissue Complication Probability Analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine, by treatment plan comparison along with normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) modeling, whether a subpopulation of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) could be identified that would gain substantial benefit from proton therapy in terms of NTCP. METHODS AND MATERIALS: For 45 HNSCC patients, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was compared to intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Physical dose distributions were evaluated as well as the resulting NTCP values, using modern models for acute mucositis, xerostomia, aspiration, dysphagia, laryngeal edema, and trismus. Patient subgroups were defined based on primary tumor location. RESULTS: Generally, IMPT reduced the NTCP values while keeping similar target coverage for all patients. Subgroup analyses revealed a higher individual reduction of swallowing-related side effects by IMPT for patients with tumors in the upper head and neck area, whereas the risk reduction of acute mucositis was more pronounced in patients with tumors in the larynx region. More patients with tumors in the upper head and neck area had a reduction in NTCP of more than 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Subgrouping can help to identify patients who may benefit more than others from the use of IMPT and, thus, can be a useful tool for a preselection of patients in the clinic where there are limited PT resources. Because the individual benefit differs within a subgroup, the relative merits should additionally be evaluated by individual treatment plan comparisons.

[Prophylactic use of icatibant before tracheal intubation of a patient with hereditary angioedema type III. (A literature review of perioperative management of patients with hereditary angioedema type III)]. / Uso profiláctico de icatibant en un caso de angioedema hereditario tipo III. (Revisión de la literatura sobre manejo perioperatorio en pacientes con angioedema hereditario tipo III).

Type III hereditary angioedema is a rare familial disorder that has recently been described as a separate condition. Triggers for episodes of angioedema include surgery, dental procedures, and tracheal intubation maneuvers. Since episodes affecting the upper airway are potentially life-threatening, prophylactic treatment is recommended in these situations. The use of icatibant (Firazyr(®)), for prevention of angioedema prior to tracheal intubation, is reported in a patient with type iii hereditary angioedema. A literature review on the anesthetic management of this condition was conducted.

Elective use of an uncuffed small-bore cricothyrotomy tube with balloon occlusion of the subglottic airway.

PURPOSE: To conduct a qualitative observational study on positive pressure ventilation through a percutaneous uncuffed small-bore cricothyrotomy tube with balloon occlusion of the subglottic airway to minimize supraglottic leak. CLINICAL FEATURES: Ten consecutive procedures were performed in the nine men enrolled in this study. The demographics of the participants were: aged 50-73 yr, weight 48-87 kg, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I-II, and scheduled for endoscopic submucosal dissection via flexible endoscopy for en bloc resection of superficial meso- and hypopharyngeal cancer. The airway was initially secured with a supraglottic airway (SGA) under sevoflurane-based anesthesia, and a cricothyrotomy was then performed using a Portex(®) Minitrach II uncuffed cricothyrotomy tube (4-mm internal diameter). Following SGA removal, a Coopdech(®) bronchial blocker was orally or nasally inserted, and the balloon was inflated to occlude the trachea immediately beneath the glottis. The ventilator setting was initially based on observation of chest motion and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension and then readjusted according to arterial blood gas levels. All procedures were completed within a median time of 149 min. Effective ventilation was achieved in all patients despite mild hypercapnia (PaCO2 of 58 mmHg at maximum) in some patients. SpO2 levels were maintained at ≥ 98%. CONCLUSION: This technique provides effective intraoperative ventilation and easy endoscopic access, and it countermeasures against the likely complication of postoperative laryngeal edema. Moreover, there is no need for conventional tracheostomy or prolonged intubation. This approach establishes a curative and less invasive pharyngeal cancer therapy. Certain adverse outcomes can be avoided, including impaired speech and swallowing, possible delayed closure of the stoma, or a compromised cosmetic outcome.

Intra-individual variation of the cuff-leak test as a predictor of post-extubation stridor.

BACKGROUND: This was an evaluation of intra-individual variation of the cuff-leak test (ΔCLT) immediately post-intubation and pre-extubation, as a predictor of post-extubation stridor. METHODS: Prospective, clinical investigation in the ICU of a non-university hospital. CLTs were performed immediately after intubation (T0) and before extubation (T1) to evaluate the differences in cuff leak (ΔCLT = CL(T1) - CL(T0)). RESULTS: We included 104 mechanically ventilated subjects in the study over a 12-month period. The incidence of post-extubation stridor was 6.7%. Stridor was more common in females of short stature. ΔCLT was considered as significant when CL(T1) - CL(T0) was negative. The sensitivity and the specificity of the test were 86% and 48%, respectively. When we tested the pre-extubation CLT alone with a threshold of 130 mL as a predictor of post-extubation stridor, the sensitivity and the specificity of the test were 86% and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The intra-individual variation of CLT immediately post-intubation and pre-extubation does not improve the accuracy of a standard pre-extubation CLT to predict post-extubation stridor. Moreover, the standard pre-extubation CLT did not appear in our study to be an ideal test to detect post-extubation stridor. Larger studies should be performed before generalizing these preliminary results.

[Case of laryngopharyngeal edema after a spinal tumor resection in prone position with extensive neck flexion].

A 63-year-old woman developed laryngopharyngeal edema after a cervical spinal tumor resection in prone position. The tracheal tube was removed after 11 hours of general anesthesia and nasal airway was inserted because stridor was audible. Blisters were found on the skin of the anterior neck of the patient. Examinations at 3 h after the extubation suggested upper airway stenosis including stridor, increased work of breathing, oxygenation impairment, and hypercapnia. The trachea of the patient was intubated and the examination of the upper airway by inserting a fiberoptic bronchoscope through the patient's mouth revealed laryngopharyngeal edema. It was considered that the disturbance of venous and/or lymphatic flow of anterior neck due to extensive neck anteflexion during the surgery in prone position had induced the laryngopharyngeal edema; however, we could not verify the cause of the edema. The edema persisted for weeks. We conclude that we should avoid extensive neck anteflexion during surgery in prone position and it is recommended to observe the upper airway for a few hours after extubation because there could be airway obstruction due to delayed and/ or progressive laryngopharyngeal edema.

[Anesthesia and perioperative management in a patient with acquired angioedema].

We experienced anesthesia and perioperative management for hysterectomy in a patient with acquired angioedema. Angioedema due to C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency (loss or dysfunction of C1-INH) is one of the rarest diseases, and is characterized by recurrent episodes of regional hard edema and ascites induced by mechanical stimuli or mental stress. Edema spreads to the subcutaneous and submucosal layer, and laryngeal edema may cause the upper airway obstruction. Tranexamic acid and C1-INH concentrates were administered perioperatively for prophylaxis of attacks, and combined spinal and epidural anesthesia was performed for hysterectomy. We could manage perioperative care without causing edema.

Impact of image-guided radiotherapy to reduce laryngeal edema following treatment for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers.

We would like to determine the effectiveness of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) to reduce laryngeal edema following treatment for head and neck cancer and to assess patient perception of voice and speech after treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of 44 patients undergoing radiation for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers. Endoscopic and/or mirror examinations of the larynx were performed following radiotherapy at each follow-up visit. Laryngeal edema was assessed based on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grading scale. Patients were also asked to rate about the voice and speech quality relative to their pre-radiotherapy status. The mean laryngeal dose was 16.3 Gy (range: 11.7-45.5 Gy). At a median follow-up of 14 months (range: 2-31 months), three patients (7%) developed laryngeal edema (one grade 1, two grade 2). The mean laryngeal dose was respectively 20.3 Gy in two patients and 20.7 Gy in the third patient developing laryngeal edema. Except for one patient who continued to smoke and drink after radiotherapy, no patient reported any significant change in voice and speech quality after treatment. IGRT results in low rates and low severity of laryngeal edema following treatment for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers and may preserve voice quality.

Risk of laryngeal edema and facial swellings after tooth extraction in patients with hereditary angioedema with and without prophylaxis with C1 inhibitor concentrate: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Tooth extractions may trigger clinical symptoms of hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (HAE-C1-INH). The aim of this study was to determine how many tooth extractions were followed by symptoms of HAE-C1-INH in patients with and without preoperative short-term prophylaxis with C1 inhibitor concentrate. STUDY DESIGN: Tooth extractions and clinical symptoms of HAE-C1-INH were determined from clinical record files of 171 patients with HAE-C1-INH. RESULTS: Facial swelling or potentially life-threatening laryngeal edema, or both, occurred in 124/577 tooth extractions (21.5%) without prophylaxis. Similar symptoms occurred in a fewer proportion of patients undergoing extractions (16/128; 12.5%) after short-term prophylaxis with C1 inhibitor concentrate. The graded dose-response relationship was significant at P < .05. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term prophylaxis with C1 inhibitor concentrate significantly reduces the risk of HAE-C1-INH symptoms after tooth extraction. In some patients, however, facial swellings and laryngeal edema symptoms may occur despite prophylaxis.

Hereditary angioedema: treatment, management, and precautions in patients presenting for dental care.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a nonhistamine-mediated process causing edema of the tissues of the upper airway, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. As such it does not respond well to epinephrine, antihistamines, or glucocorticoids. Instead it is treated with attenuated androgenic hormones, episolone aminocaproic acid (EACA), or tranexamic acid, C1 esterase inhibitor, and fresh-frozen plasma. Medical or surgical management of the airway may be necessary in an acute situation. Minor trauma, such as that associated with dental procedures and psychologic stress, may precipitate an attack; however, swelling may not manifest itself for 12-48 hours after a procedure. Symptoms of angioedema may be exacerbated in these patients if they are given an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. This paper reviews this entity and presents 2 patients who presented for acute care with dental/oral surgical complaints.

Clinical review: post-extubation laryngeal edema and extubation failure in critically ill adult patients.

Laryngeal edema is a frequent complication of intubation. It often presents shortly after extubation as post-extubation stridor and results from damage to the mucosa of the larynx. Mucosal damage is caused by pressure and ischemia resulting in an inflammatory response. Laryngeal edema may compromise the airway necessitating reintubation. Several studies show that a positive cuff leak test combined with the presence of risk factors can identify patients with increased risk for laryngeal edema. Meta-analyses show that pre-emptive administration of a multiple-dose regimen of glucocorticosteroids can reduce the incidence of laryngeal edema and subsequent reintubation. If post-extubation edema occurs this may necessitate medical intervention. Parenteral administration of corticosteroids, epinephrine nebulization and inhalation of a helium/oxygen mixture are potentially effective, although this has not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials. The use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation is not indicated since this will delay reintubation. Reintubation should be considered early after onset of laryngeal edema to adequately secure an airway. Reintubation leads to increased cost, morbidity and mortality.

L-epinephrine and dexamethasone in postextubation airway obstruction: a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study.

PURPOSE: This prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study paired trial groups to investigate the effect of intravenous dexamethasone and nebulized L-epinephrine on the clinical development of postextubation laryngeal edema. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients aged 1 day to 12 years who needed intubation from August/1997 to February/1999 in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medicine were paired according to age, height and weight, anthropometric z-scores, duration of tracheal intubation and number of intubation attempts. Patients received intravenous dexamethasone (0.2mg/kg every 6h), with or without nebulized L-epinephrine (0.5mg/kg every 4h) in the study groups; in the control groups, they received nebulized or intravenous isotonic saline solution, or both. DEPENDENT VARIABLES: frequency and severity of the laryngeal edema (according to Westley Clinical Scoring System), as well as the time interval (min) between extubation and the first postextubation laryngeal edema scores. Postextubation respiratory rate and transcutaneous oxygen saturation were employed as indicators of the clinical conditions for extubation. RESULTS: Laryngeal edema frequencies did not change according to treatments, chi(2) (3, N=64)=0.58, p>0.05, and the highest scores were not reached in the 24h after extubation, chi(ranks)(2) (3, N=16)=1.03, p>0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone and l-epinephrine did not reduce the clinical progression of airway obstruction due to laryngeal edema in the early postextubation period.

[Anaesthesic management of vaginal delivery in a parturient with C1 esterase deficiency]. / Prise en charge anesthésique d'un accouchement chez une patiente atteinte d'un déficit en inhibiteur de C1 estérase.

Hereditary and acquired angioedema (HAE/AAE) are the clinical translation of a qualitative or a quantitative deficit of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH). The frequency and severity of clinical manifestations vary greatly, ranging from a moderate swelling of the extremities to obstruction of upper airway. Anaesthesiologists and intensivists must be prepared to manage acute manifestations of this disease in case of life-threatening laryngeal edema. Surgery, physical trauma and labour are classical triggers of the disease. The anaesthesiologists should be aware of the drugs used as prophylaxis and treatment of acute attacks when considering labour and caesarean section. Androgens are contraindicated during pregnancy. If prophylaxis is required, tranexamic acid may be used with caution. The safest obstetric approach appears to be to administer a predelivery infusion of C1 INH concentrate. It is important to avoid manipulation of the airway as much as possible by relying on regional techniques. We report the case of a patient suffering from an HAE discovered during pregnancy. The management included administration of C1 INH during labor and early epidural analgesia for pain relief. A short review of the pathophysiology and therapeutic options follows.

Steroids and risk factors for airway compromise in multilevel cervical corpectomy patients: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intravenous corticosteroids in preventing delayed extubation after multilevel corpectomy and strut graft reconstructive procedures and to identify risk factors for delayed extubation in these patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: We performed a prospective, randomized double-blind study in patients undergoing multilevel cervical corpectomy procedures. Our hypothesis was that high-dose perioperative steroids would decrease edema and thus decrease the incidence of delayed extubation. METHODS: We studied patients undergoing 2- or 3-level anterior cervical corpectomy procedures with anterior strut graft reconstruction. Sixty-six patients were randomized to receive 3 doses of either intravenous dexamethasone (n = 35) or saline (n = 31). The first dose was given before the incision, with subsequent doses given 8 and 16 hours later. Patients remained intubated until postoperative day 1, at which time a cuff leak test was performed by the anesthesiology attending. If a leak was present, the patient was extubated. If not, the test was repeated each postoperative day until a leak was present, indicating a patent airway. RESULTS: Five of 35 (14%) in the steroid group and 6 of 31 (19%) in the saline group required delayed extubation (P = 0.22). There were no statistical differences in preoperative parameters of age, gender, diagnosis, smoking history, BMI, number of operative levels, or preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists rating between the 2 groups. Similarly there were no differences between the groups for duration of anesthesia, intraoperative colloids or crystalloids, intraoperative blood loss, or intraoperative urine output. The data for both groups were pooled to evaluate risk factors for delayed extubation. The only statistically significant risk factor for delayed extubation in this study was female gender (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Based on our data, we cannot recommend intravenous dexamethasone for prevention of delayed extubation after multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy and strut grafting procedures.

Prophylactic administration of parenteral steroids for preventing airway complications after extubation in adults: meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether steroids are effective in preventing laryngeal oedema after extubation and reducing the need for subsequent reintubation in critically ill adults. DESIGN: Meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Web of Science, and Embase with no limitation on language, study year, or publication status. Selection criteria Randomised placebo controlled trials in which parenteral steroids were compared with placebo for preventing complications after extubation in adults. Review methods Search, application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction, and assessment of methodological quality, independently performed in duplicate. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, risk difference, and number needed to treat were calculated and pooled. PRIMARY OUTCOME: laryngeal oedema after extubation. Secondary outcome: subsequent reintubation because of laryngeal oedema. RESULTS: Six trials (n=1923) were identified. Compared with placebo, steroids given before planned extubation decreased the odds ratio for laryngeal oedema (0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.17 to 0.85) and subsequent reintubation (0.29, 0.15 to 0.58), corresponding with a risk difference of -0.10 (-0.12 to -0.07; number needed to treat 10) and -0.02 (-0.04 to -0.01; 50), respectively. Subgroup analyses indicated that a multidose regimen of steroids had marked positive effects on the occurrence of laryngeal oedema (0.14; 0.08 to 0.23) and on the rate of subsequent reintubation (0.19; 0.07 to 0.50), with a risk difference of -0.19 (-0.24 to -0.15; 5) and -0.04 (-0.07 to -0.02; 25). In single doses there was only a trend towards benefit, with the confidence interval including 1. Side effects related to steroids were not found. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic administration of steroids in multidose regimens before planned extubation reduces the incidence of laryngeal oedema after extubation and the consequent reintubation rate in adults, with few adverse events.