Post-extubation pulmonary function tests in detection of upper airway obstruction in drug-overdosed patients.
A relatively high percentage of hypnotic-sedative drug-overdosed (HSDO) patients suffer post-extubation upper airway obstruction. Since early detection and treatment of these lesions is desirable, we studied 20 recently extubated (within 24 hours) as well as 11 non-intubated HSDO patients employing flow-volume loops and spirometry. Abnormalities in tests for upper airway obstruction were common in both groups but only in the four post-extubation patients with clinically suspected upper airway obstruction was an inspiratory plateau by flow volume loops found. In addition, three of these four patients had mid-VC ratios greater than 1.25. We conclude that the Inspiratory flow volume loop and the mid-VC ratio may help in detecting post-extubation upper airway obstruction in lethargic, HSDO patients.
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014797:Vital Capacity