成人病患拔管後喉咽水腫的原因、評估與處理

Laryngeal edema is the most common complication after extubation and can cause upper airway obstruction with stridor and dyspnea in the adult patients. In severe condition, the patients usually deteriorate their general conditions and need to be re-intubated, prolong the days on mechanical ventilation and hospital stay, and increase the mortality rate and resources utilization. The early detection of the occurrence of upper airway obstruction can lower the risk of extubation failure. Cuff-leak test is the most common used non-invasive method to predict the occurrence of upper airway obstruction. Through the literature review, we will present the steps, diagnostic criteria and related therapeutic strategies of this test. The information provided in this article could help the clinicians in their practice.