Risk factors associated with post-extubation stridor in the trauma intensive care unit

• Stridor is an uncommon complication in medical intensive care units (ICUs) but has not been well studied in the trauma ICU population.
• Goal of study to determine the incidence of reintubation due to stridor in trauma patients and describe associated risk factors.
• Retrospective review of intubated trauma patients was conducted, with data collection including presence of stridor, demographic data, and details of intubation and extubation.
• Found that trauma ICU patients are reintubated for stridor more frequently than rates previously reported for medical ICU patients and that reintubation for stridor is associated with age younger than 18 years, female gender, blunt mechanism, and duration of intubation 5 days or more, but is not associated with endotracheal tube size.

BackgroundPost-extubation stridor is an uncommon complication in medical intensive care units (ICUs) but has not been well studied in trauma patients. We sought to determine the incidence of reintubation due to stridor in trauma patients and describe associated risk factors.MethodsA retrospective review of all intubated trauma patients was performed. Data collected included presence of stridor, demographic data, and details of intubation and extubation.ResultsOf all trauma patients reintubated, 31% were for stridor. Although female gender, age less than 18, blunt mechanism, and duration of intubation 5 days or more were associated with reintubation for stridor, endotracheal tube diameter was not. Mortality was not increased with reintubation.ConclusionsTrauma ICU patients are reintubated for stridor at a higher rate than medical ICU patients. Age, gender, blunt mechanism, and duration of intubation are risk factors for this complication.