Mechanical ventilation of a patient with decreased lung compliance and tracheal dilatation

Tracheal injury resulting from tracheal intubation is common. Injuries vary in type and severity, from mucosal sloughing to tracheal stenosis and fistula formation. We report a patient with poor lung compliance and massive tracheal dilatation as a result of prolonged mechanical ventilation with high inflation pressure despite the use of a high-volume, low-pressure cuff. To reduce the tracheal dilatation but maintain adequate ventilation and continuous positive airway pressure, we substituted a longer double-cuff tracheotomy appliance and used an automatic intermittent cuff inflator. The problems related to the design of modern tracheal tube cuffs are discussed.