Author(s): SN Singh, RK Choudhary, Anita Singh, Mala Kumar
Postextubation upper airway obstruction can lead to early extubation failure in ventilated newborn infants. Treatment with steroid, nebulized epinephrine and non-invasive respira-tory assistance may not be effective. Reintubation and ventilation for respiratory failure with subsequent extubation attempts or surgical interventions are often employed with vari-able results. A series of 29 infants with failed extubation due to upper airway obstruction, treated by therapeutic reintubation, without ventilation is presented. The therapy was suc-cessful in 24 patients with a median reintubation period of 3.5 days. The important element in achieving success is to choose a smaller size tube which gives an adequate airway.