The Journal of laryngology and otology
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
The use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess tracheal stenosis following percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
The incidence of tracheal stenosis following conventional tracheostomy has been reported as lying between one and 30 per cent. Methods used to assess the degree of stenosis include CT scanning, fibreoptic visualization and plain X-ray tomographs. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of stenosis in patients following percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) using MRI scanning. ⋯ Although scarring could be detected in the wall of the trachea and subcutaneous tissues of all patients, tracheal stenosis was not demonstrated at the insertion site or at the site of the cuff (p > 0.05). MRI scanning provides an excellent non-invasive method of assessing the tracheal lumen. Our patients who had undergone PDT do not appear to have any degree of post-operative stenosis.
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This is a report of two patients with leech inhalation. The first patient presented with severe attacks of inspiratory stridor, cyanosis and cough of five days duration. He had no fever. ⋯ Indirect laryngoscopy revealed a brown foreign body in the larynx. Laryngoscopy under general anaesthesia showed a living leech. This was removed by forceps.