title: Airway complications in the head injured.
abstract: Fifty head-injured patients who had tracheostomy were followed during rehabilitation by video fiberoptic laryngoscopy examination. Complications of aspiration (23/50), airway stenosis (13/50), and phonation dysfunction (16/24) were followed. Spontaneous resolution of aspiration may require a prolonged course. A majority of patients (37/50) had improvement and could be decannulated. Prognostic factors correlated to eventual decannulation included age, level on the Glasgow Coma Outcome Scale, and type of head injury. Those with poor neurologic improvement and glottic incompetence (13/50) are poor candidates for decannulation. Significant airway stenosis can involve both laryngeal and tracheal sites. Neurologic dysfunction may complicate the decannulation process after airway anatomy has been restored by surgery. Dysphonia resulting from intubation, peripheral laryngeal and nerve injury, or central laryngeal movement dysfunction are common. Preventive maintenance with ongoing evaluation can avoid airway crises such as aspiration pneumonia, hemoptysis, and innominate artery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirshner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology