Incidence of and risk factors for airway complications following endotracheal intubation for bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors predisposing to postextubation complications and the incidence of subglottic stenosis following endotracheal intubation for bronchiolitis.

STUDY DESIGN AND

SETTING

A review of 144 consecutive infants and children intubated for bronchiolitis between 2000 and 2005 at a regional children's hospital.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 6.4 months. Follow-up data were available in 93 patients (64.6%), and average length of follow-up was 9.3 months. One hundred and three patients (71.5%) had positive RSV detection. Average duration of intubation was 5.5 days. Twenty-six patients (18.1%) required reintubation during the same admission. Children intubated for less than 3 days and those greater than 12 months of age were more likely to experience postextubation difficulties. Approximately 40% of patients experienced postextubation difficulties. Subglottic pathology was found on endoscopy in 6 patients (4%). There were no cases of long-term subglottic stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Immediate postextubation complications are common after bronchiolitis, especially in patients intubated for less than 3 days and greater than 12 months of age. We found no evidence of long-term subglottic stenosis in this population.