Use of a ventilating tube exchanger in patients undergoing tracheostomy: Report of two cases

Two case reports in which a ventilating tube exchanger was used during trac heostomy in patients with potential for difficult reintubation are presente d. We recommend leaving the ventilating tube exchanger in place for 48 hour s to allow reintubation from above in the event of inadvertent decannulatio n in cases where difficult intubation is anticipated. Ventilating tube exchangers have been used to assist in the management of d ifficult airways in a variety of ways. These methods include the use of ven tilating tube exchangers as malleable stylets, endotracheal tube exchangers and conduits through which oxygen can be delivered. We present two cases i n which a ventilating tube exchanger was used as an adjunct to airway manag ement in a novel fashion. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.