Abstract
Two cases are presented of severe tracheal damage secondary to low-pressure high-volume endotracheal tube cuffs monitored carefully against over-inflation. Our patients' findings suggest that in the presence of tracheal inhalation injury or severe tracheal infection strict monitoring of pressures, though essential, does not preclude tracheal trauma from a low-pressure cuff, trauma to a degree generally ascribed only to high-pressure "stiff" cuffs. There is probably no arbitrarily safe level of cuff pressure in these patients; any amount of pressure is likely to further harm the tracheal wall and must be weighed into the risk-benefit equation for prolonged intubation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 89-92 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Intensive Care Medicine |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1981 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Endotracheal cuff trauma
- Trachea
- Tracheal injury
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine