Endotracheal tube lumen compromise from cuff overinflation.

A chest roentgenogram demonstrates lumen collapse as the cause of ventilatory obstruction in an intubated patient. This problem is not restricted to defective tubes but may be caused by overinflation of the cuff in normal tubes. D espite the impressive record of endotracheal tubes as guardians of an unobstructed airway, human and mechanical failure causing these devices to become dangerous sites of obstruction in the upper airway con-