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Methylprednisolone reduces the rates of postextubation stridor and reintubation associated with attenuated cytokine responses in critically ill patients.

Author(s): Cheng KC, Chen CM, Tan CK, Chen HM, Lu CL, Zhang H

Affiliation(s): Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.

Publication date & source: 2011-05, Minerva Anestesiol., 77(5):503-9.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

BACKGROUND: Treatment with corticosteroids can reduce the incidence of postextubation stridor (PES) and reintubation in critically ill adult patients, but the mechanisms remain unknown. METHODS: A randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in an adult medical and surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital. Seventy-one patients who had a cuff leak percentage <24% of tidal volume received either a bolus injection of methylprednisolone at 40 mg (treated group, n=38) or normal saline (placebo group, n=33) 4 h prior to a planned extubation. The cuff leak percentage was re-assessed 1 h and 4 h post-injection. Eighty patients who had a cuff leak percentage >/= 24% served as a control group. Plasma concentrations of multiple cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline, 4 h and 24 h after the intervention. RESULTS: The incidences of PES (15.8% vs. 39.4%, P<0.05) and reintubation rate (7.9% vs. 30.3%, P<0.05) were lower in the treated group compared to the placebo group. The plasma concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 increased while the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 decreased at 24 h in the treated group compared to the placebo group. No difference in CRP levels was observed between the treated and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: A single injection of methylprednisolone at the dose used 4 h prior to planned extubation effectively reduced the incidence of PES and the reintubation rate. These beneficial effects were associated with the up-regulation of IL-4 and IL-10 and the down-regulation of IL-6 and IL-8 in the critically ill adult patients.

Page last updated: 2011-12-09

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