Use Bronchoscopy to Predict Post-Extubation Stridor in Critical Ill Patients

The patients in our ICU intubated for \> 24h and met weaning criteria, will be examined by bronchoscopy. Five ㏄ blood will be collected for checking CRP and cytokines before performing bronchoscopy. The proposed grading of post-extubation vocal cord finding were shown (Figure 1). The patients will be classified to two groups (Figure 2). The first group is these patients without swelling or swelling area ≦50% who will be extubated after bronchoscopic examination. These patients will be followed for 48 hours to monitor the incidence of PES. The second group is those patients who develop laryngeal edema with swelling area ≧50% or swelling in the whole vocal cord. Bosmin 2 ml local injection and Solu-medrol 40 mg I.V. Q6h for 1\ 4 days will be given. Bronchoscopy will be done if CLV ≧24% or after treatments for 3\ 4 days even with CLV \<24%. The above treatments will be applied again if stridor develops. Extubation will be performed if no presence of laryngeal edema.