Respiratory complications associated with tracheal intubation and extubation.
We conducted a prospective survey on the incidence of respiratory complications associated with tracheal intubation and extubation in 1005 patients who underwent elective general anaesthesia over a 4-month period. During induction of anaesthesia, respiratory complications occurred in 46 patients (4.6%; 95% confidence limits (CL): 3.3, 5.9%). The common complications were coughing (1.5%) and difficult ventilation through a facemask (1.4%). Tracheal intubation was difficult in eight patients (0.8%). Complications occurred immediately after tracheal extubation in 127 patients (12.6%; 95% CL: 10.6, 14.7) and in the recovery room in 95 patients (9.5%; 95% CL: 7.6, 11.3%). The common complications immediately after extubation were coughing (6.6%) and oxygen desaturation (SaO2 < 90%) (2.4%), and in the recovery room, airway obstruction (3.8%) and coughing (3.1%). The incidence of complications was significantly higher immediately after tracheal extubation than during induction of anaesthesia (P << 0.001). Even when all incidents of coughing that occurred after tracheal extubation were disregarded as a complication, the overall incidence was still higher immediately after extubation (7.4%) than during induction of anaesthesia (P < 0.01). We conclude that the incidence of respiratory complications associated with tracheal extubation may be higher than that during tracheal intubation.
Asai
T
T
Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
Koga
K
K
Vaughan
R S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012307:Risk Factors