Laryngeal air column width ratio in predicting post extubation stridor.

AIM: Correlation of upper air column width ratio in postextubation stridor patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital between January and December 2013. Patients who were admitted in Intensive Care Unit and intubated for >24 h were included (72 patients). The upper airway air column width ratio (air column width before extubation/air column width after intubation) was calculated and compared in patient with or without postextubation stridor.

RESULTS: The incidence of stridor was 6.9% (5/72). The duration of mechanical ventilation was 5.60 ± 1.14 days and 3.91 ± 1.45 days in stridor and nonstridor group respectively. In all 5 patients who had stridor, the upper airway air column width ratio was 0.8 or less.

CONCLUSION: Air column width ratio of 0.8 or less may be helpful in predicting postextubation stridor, which should be confirmed by large observational studies.