Although intubation is often necessary and lifesaving, there are known laryngotracheal consequences. Otolaryngologists are all too familiar with the vocal-fold damage and inflammatory conditions that are associated with prolonged intubation because patients often present in the hospital or clinic with dysphonia or dyspnea. The size of the endotracheal tube and the duration of intubation are known to be risk factors for postintubation damage. The pathophysiology is well understood to be caused by pressure-induced damage to the mucosal and car tilaginous structures of the larynx. However, despite this knowledge, laryngeal damage is often considered unavoidable, accrued as a result of a lifesaving stay in an intensive care unit. The resulting disease state can be so functionally devastating and difficult to treat that many otolaryngologists are left wondering: is there something we can do to prevent this from happening?
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