Corticosteroids to prevent postextubation upper airway obstruction: the evidence mounts

doi:10.1186/cc5976

Critical Care
Volume 11
Issue 4

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Commentary

Corticosteroids to prevent postextubation upper airway obstruction: the evidence mounts

Scott K Epstein

Tufts University School of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Division, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2007, 11:156doi:10.1186/cc5976


Published:	14 August 2007

See related research by Lee et al., http://ccforum.com/content/11/4/R72

Abstract

Intubation of the airway can lead to laryngotracheal injury, resulting in extubation failure from upper airway obstruction (UAO). A number of factors can help to identify patients who are at greatest risk for postextubation UAO. Three randomized controlled trials demonstrate that prophylactic corticosteroids decrease the risk for postextubation UAO and probably the need for re-intubation.