Acute laryngeal injury with short-term endotracheal anesthesia.

Abstract

AbstractEndotracheal intubation provides an excellent way of controlling a patient's airway. Except in long term intubation, where pressure necrosis, secondary infection and cicatrix formation are known causes of complications, an endotracheal tube is usually not considered a significant laryngeal hazard.The following case reports of arytenoid dislocation, laryngeal laceration, pseudomembrane formation and vocal cord paralysis, illustrate the etiology and clinical problems that result from unsuspected laryngeal injury following elective short‐term endotracheal intubation for anesthetic purposes. Because most post‐extubation symptoms are thought to be caused by edema, the larynx is rarely examined, and the patient's symptoms are either ignored or treated with some combination of cold steam, steroids and antibiotics. Diagnosis and management of these injuries, is frequently compromised or delayed until either the symptoms persist for five to seven days or until airway obstruction, severe pain or aphonia develop.