title: [Complications after prolonged intubation in patients with head trauma].
abstract: In this study, 72 patients with head injury, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were analyzed. All of them required prolonged intubation. Every patient was initially intubated. Thirty (41.7%) of them underwent tracheotomy and 56 (77.8%) demanded mechanical ventilation. The patients were divided into three groups with respect to their treatment: 1. Patients intubated up to five days--27 (37.5%); 2. Patients intubated more than five days--45 (62.5%); 3. Tracheotomized patients--30 (41.7%). Tracheotomy was done between the fifth and the twenty-sixth day following the intubation. Laryngotracheal complications occurred in 47% of the patients from the second group and 23% from the third group. The patients in the first group developed no complications. Pulmonary infections prevailed in the second group. We conclude that early postinjury tracheotomy is associated with a lesser incidence of complications than prolonged intubation in neurosurgical patients.
authors.affiliation: Opća bolnica Zagreb.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gasparović
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lajtman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology