The incidence of subglottic stenosis in children has risen rapidly in the last 20 years as more advanced techniques enable younger preterm neonates to survive. There has been a similar rise in the number of different surgical methods devised to alleviate the stenosis; success has been claimed for each technique. The importance of normal laryngeal growth throughout an often protracted period of ...

We developed an in vitro model to evaluate the effect of different cuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs) on transtracheal transmission of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) pathogens along external surfaces of ETTs. The model independently assessed the relative contributions of microbial proliferation to the distal tip and microaspiration of contaminated secretions past the cuff by testing in thr...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite copious literature on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), several aspects of this subject remain controversial. We review the current state of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of VAP, paying special attention to data reported over the past year. RECENT FINDINGS The latest recommendations for VAP prevention stress the importance of implementing ventilator b...

BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICUs). Most published studies have analysed nurses' theoretical knowledge about a specific procedure; however, the transfer of this knowledge to the practice has received little attention. AIM To assess the impact of training session on nurses' knowledge regarding VAP, complianc...

BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and associated with a high mortality. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a medical-surgical ICU. Multiple interventions to optimize VAP prevention were performed from October 2008 to December 2010. All of these processes, including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a major cause of death, morbidity and costs in ICUs. Several evidence-based clinical interventions have been increasingly described for its prevention. However, continuous control of tracheal cuff pressure (Pcuff) is rarely mentioned in the latest clinical guidelines. This review focuses on the available data about the management of Pcu...

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most commonly encountered hospital-acquired infections in intensive care units and is associated with significant morbidity and high costs of care. The pathophysiology, epidemiology, treatment and prevention of VAP have been extensively studied for decades, but a clear prevention strategy has not yet emerged. In this article we will review rec...

thyroid tissue located within the upper airway has received only sparse attention in the english literature. aberrant benign thyroid masses may present as either an unrelated autopsy finding or with symptoms such as dyspnea, hemoptysis or adult -onset asthma. there is no place for medical management in the therapy of these lesions, although the appropriate surgical procedure is not clearly esta...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To determine utility of surveillance direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (DLB) in children with chronic tracheostomies by examining the frequency of operative intervention in children undergoing an annual DLB. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective medical record review and analysis of operative findings and interventions. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted of all...