title: Pneumothorax due to ball-valve obstruction of an endotracheal tube in a mechanically ventilated patient.
abstract: Barotrauma is a well-known complication of mechanical ventilation, thought to be related to alveolar rupture from localized hyperinflation. Mishaps related to endotracheal intubation can lead to barotrauma such as inadvertent intubation of the right mainstem bronchus. In this report, we describe pneumothorax as a consequence of ball-valve occlusion, a previously undescribed endotracheal tube malfunction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Russomanno
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology