Table 1.
Clinical scoring system, modified from Ohnesorge et al. (1998): The highest score given in each subcategory counts as maximum points for this subcategory, maximum points of subcategories are summed up to gain the total score number
| Score | Max. Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Coughing | No cough after manual compression of larynx | 0 | 1 |
| from history, spontaneously or induced | 1 | ||
| 2. Dyspnoea at rest | moderately increased abdominal effort | 1 | 3 |
| Nostril flare | 3 | ||
| Hypertrophy of abdominal muscles | 3 | ||
| 3. Percussion lung field | >1 hand increase | 1 | 2 |
| >2 hands increase | 2 | ||
| 4. Lung auscultation | Wheezes and crackles | 2 | 2 |
| 5. Endoscopy | Significantly increased secretions with moderate viscosity | 1 | 2 |
| Highly increased secretions with high viscosity | 2 | ||
| Marked thickening of tracheal bifurcation [52] | 1 | ||
| 6. BALF cytology | Neutrophils <8% | 0 | 3 |
| Neutrophils 8–15% | 1 | ||
| Neutrophils 15–25% | 2 | ||
| Neutrophils >25% | 3 | ||
| 7. Blood gas analysis | PAO2-PaO2: 0–7 mmHg | 0 | 2 |
| PAO2-PaO2: 7–14 mmHg | 1 | ||
| PAO2-PaO2: >14 mmHg | 2 | ||