Several complications, often very severe, have been associated with tracheal intubation (TI). Incidence reaches up to 18%. Objectives: To analyze larynx lesions caused by TI; the development of stenosis and granuloma in the larynx, and voice evolution. Patients and methods: This study analyzed prospectively 73 patients in the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Cajuru -- Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, southern Brazil. For five consecutive days, patients were submitted to TI, foreseen to be necessary for seven additional days. They were submitted to tracheostomy on the sixth day post-TI. Fibrolaryngotracheobronchoscopy was performed on the 6th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 60th, 90th,and 180th days post-intubation. Results: By the 180th day, 30 patients had survived: 18 (60%) patients showed normal voice; 9 (30%) could not be evaluated; and 3 (10%) presented dysphonia. Eight patients presented granulomas in the larynx -- 5 of them were spontaneously cured, 2 (25.0%) were resected, and 1 remained after the 180th day. Stenosis in the larynx was detected in only 1 patient. Conclusions: Thanks to the shorter time of exposure of the larynx to the trauma caused by the orotracheal cannula, the performance of tracheostomy on the sixth day seems to cause few complications.
Intratracheal intubation; Tracheostomy; Tracheal stenosis; Laryngostenosis; Laryngeal granuloma
