Objective:To study the effect of dexamethasone on postextubation stridor(PS)incidence and reintubation rate due to PS in a high-risk paediatric intensive care population.Patients and methods:All children aged between 4 wk and 6 y,who were intubated for at least 24 h and extubated between August 1999 and May 2002,were retrospectively included(n = 60).Medical records of the included patients were studied;records of patients treated with dexamethasone prior to and following extubation(n = 23)were compared with control patients who had not received prophylactic medication(n = 37).Results:Nine patients in the control group developed significant postextubation stridor,necessitating nebulized epinephrine or glucocorticosteroids.In six of these children,reintubation as a result of postextubation stridor was indicated.None of the patients treated with dexamethasone developed severe postextubation stridor or required reintubation.Conclusions:The risk of postextubation stridor is relatively high in the group of children aged between 4 wk and 6 y with intubation exceeding 24 h.We found dexamethasone to be effective in preventing reintubation due to postextubation stridor in this paediatric high-risk group.
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