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Post-extubation stridor in children: A case report and review of the literature


D den Hollander
D Muckart

Abstract

We describe a case of post-extubation stridor in a 3-year-old child who had suffered multiple trauma. Postextubation stridor is a not uncommon sequel of intubation in children. We review the literature on this complication and give recommendations on its prevention, prediction and management. Unplanned extubations, high ‘cuff’ pressures and movement of the tube in the trachea are the important risk factors. Although the ‘cuff-leak test’ has been proposed to predict post-extubation stridor, this test is unreliable in the younger child. Management has been by racemic adrenaline and steroids, but evidence to support this practice is lacking.

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eISSN: 2078-676X
print ISSN: 1562-8264