A study of endotracheal tube injury to the subglottis.

An endotracheal tube presses against distinct pressure points within the airway. These areas are the shaft of the tube against the arytenoids and posterior cricoid and the cuff-tube tip in the trachea. An ulcerative injury occurs at these interfacing points from motion occurring between tube and tissue. Minimizing this inherent movement is possible by tube modification and, in the presented animal model, prevents injury.