Table 1.

Clinical scoring system, modified from Ohnesorge et al. (1998) [26] and Gehlen et al. (2008) [27].

		Score	Max. points
(1) Cough induction	No cough after manual compression of larynx	0	1
	Coughing during manual larynx compression	1
	Very frequent coughing	1
	Spontaneous coughing	1
(2) Dyspnoea at rest	Prolonged expiration	1	3
	Abdominal breathing	1
	Sinking of the intercostal area	3
	Nostril flare	3
	Heaves line	3
	Anal pumping	3
(3) Lung percussion	3 fingers	0	2
	Handbreadth	1
	Damping	2
(4) Lung auscultation	Rattling	2	2
	Crackle	2
	Wheezing	2
(5) Endoscopy	Significantly increased secretions with moderate viscosity	1	2
	Highly increased secretions with high viscosity	2
	Thickened carina of the trachea	1
(6) BALF cytology	Neutrophils <8%	0	3
	Neutrophils 8–15%	1
	Neutrophils 15–25%	2
	Neutrophils >25%	3
(7) Arterial blood gas analysis	AaDO2: 0–7 mmHg	0	2
	AaDO2: 7–14 mmHg	1
	AaDO2: >14 mmHg	2