Case report reveals lumen obstruction caused by endotracheal tube cuff inflation, suggesting prevention strategies.
We report a case of endotracheal tube obstruction resulting from lumen compression by its high pressure cuff. The high inflation pressures that were initially required for mechanical ventilation were dramatically reduced after deflation of the endotracheal tube cuff. Radiographic evidence demonstrated this obstruction in vivo. Testing of an endotracheal tube for lumen patency at full cuff inflation prior to use may help prevent this clinical problem.
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Hebert et al. (1981) studied this question.
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