Transtracheal Lignocaine: Effective Treatment for Postextubation Stridor

Abstract

Three cases of postextubation stridor due to suspected laryngospasm are described in which a small dose of lignocaine injected intra-tracheally, through the cricothyroid membrane, produced rapid and effective relief of stridor with no early recurrence or side-effects. The procedure was performed safely and quickly and was well tolerated by patients. Transtracheal injection of local anaesthetic should be considered for treatment of postextubation stridor in adults, so long as there is no risk of pulmonary aspiration, and pathological causes of laryngospasm have been excluded.