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Updated: May 30, 2026

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway
Published on: June 6, 2020
Endotracheal tube exchangers: should we look for safer alternatives?
Kassem Harris1, Michel Chalhoub, Rabih Maroun
1Department of Medicine-Pulmonary Critical Care, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York 10305, USA. kassemharris@gmail.com
Abstract:
Endotracheal tube exchange is considered a simple procedure, performed in cases of endotracheal tube malfunction. It usually involves the use of airway exchange catheters (AECs). The procedure, however, can lead to major complications that require prompt intervention for optimal outcomes. We report on a case of endotracheal tube exchange with AECs complicated by pneumothorax, without evidence of tracheal or bronchial injury demonstrable via bronchoscopy. Increasing rates of AEC-related complications highlight the need for alternative methods to exchange malfunctioning endotracheal tubes safely.
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