Endoscopic diagnosis of laryngeal injury following endotracheal intubation

Laryngeal injury following endotracheal intubation occurs in many patients and intensive care physicians may remain unaware of the incidence of compli cations. This study evaluated the incidence of laryngeal injury in a group of patients who had intubation for > 4 days in an intensive care unit. In 1 4 patients, laryngeal injuries were evaluated by flexible and/or rigid endo scopes as soon as the patients were extubated or decannulated. In 64% of th e patients, pathological signs, including ulceration, oedema, granulation a nd fibrosis, were determined by endoscopic examination. Postintubation inju ries were very common. Endoscopic examination may be one of the best ways t o diagnose these lesions because it allows early diagnosis and can be perfo rmed at the patients' bedside.