TY - JOUR T1 - Intra-individual Variation of the Cuff-Leak Test as a Predictor of Post-Extubation Stridor JF - Respiratory Care SP - 2026 LP - 2031 DO - 10.4187/respcare.01527 VL - 57 IS - 12 AU - Antoine Gros AU - Laurent Holzapfel AU - Sophie Marqué AU - Laurent Perard AU - Guy Demingeon AU - Bonavie Piralla AU - Sandrine Gaillard AU - Xavier Tchenio Y1 - 2012/12/01 UR - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/57/12/2026.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND: This was an evaluation of intra-individual variation of the cuff-leak test (ΔCLT) immediately post-intubation and pre-extubation, as a predictor of post-extubation stridor. METHODS: Prospective, clinical investigation in the ICU of a non-university hospital. CLTs were performed immediately after intubation (T0) and before extubation (T1) to evaluate the differences in cuff leak (ΔCLT = CLT1 − CLT0). RESULTS: We included 104 mechanically ventilated subjects in the study over a 12-month period. The incidence of post-extubation stridor was 6.7%. Stridor was more common in females of short stature. ΔCLT was considered as significant when CLT1 − CLT0 was negative. The sensitivity and the specificity of the test were 86% and 48%, respectively. When we tested the pre-extubation CLT alone with a threshold of 130 mL as a predictor of post-extubation stridor, the sensitivity and the specificity of the test were 86% and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The intra-individual variation of CLT immediately post-intubation and pre-extubation does not improve the accuracy of a standard pre-extubation CLT to predict post-extubation stridor. Moreover, the standard pre-extubation CLT did not appear in our study to be an ideal test to detect post-extubation stridor. Larger studies should be performed before generalizing these preliminary results. ER -