Spontaneous breathing trial needs to be prolonged in critically ill and older patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Purpose: To investigate a modified weaning procedure to predict extubation outcome in critically older and ventilated patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed extubation outcome in older (≥ 70 years) and ventilated patients. In period I (2007), patients passing a 2-hour spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) were extubated.

Laryngotracheal involvement as the initial manifestation of relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare multisystemic disease characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilaginous and noncartilaginous tissues. When laryngotracheal or bronchial cartilages are involved, the disease can be life-threatening and needs aggressive treatment. Upper airway complaints are rare as initial presentations of RP.