title: Endotracheal tube rupture, accidental extubation, and tracheal avulsion: three airway catastrophes associated with significant decrease in leak pressure.
abstract: We report three unusual, catastrophic cases in which a significant decrease in leak pressure around a tracheal tube was noted before the discovery of the ultimate airway problem. A brief review of potential causes of a decrease in leak pressure is included and management of these difficult cases is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UCSD Medical Center.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sauder
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000399:Air Pressure; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*