GENERAL MEDICINE: Intensive Care: Prophylactic Steroids Prevent Postextubation Laryngeal Oedema

Audio Journal of Medicine Intensive Care: Prophylactic Steroids Prevent Postextubation Laryngeal Oedema REFERENCE: Lancet 2007;369:1083-89 Editorial page 1061 RUPERT PEARSE, Barts and The London School of Medicine A big step forwards in the management of patients in the emergency room who need artificial ventilation has been reported in the Lancet. An effective way to prevent postextubation laryngeal oedema has been reported. A study carried out by Bruno François of the Dupuytren Teaching Hospital in Limoges at 15 intensive-care units of the Association des Réanimateurs du Centre-Ouest, has found that giving patients prednisolone therapy 24hrs before a planned extubation can substantially reduce the incidence of laryngeal oedema and the need for reintubation. Karen Regester spoke to Rupert Pearse who wrote the commentary on the article in the Lancet.