[A scanning electron microscopic study of the tracheal mucosa damage after long-term translaryngeal intubation (author's transl)].

Tracheal mucosa tissue obtained by tracheotomy from 23 patients who had been intubated between 4 to 20 days was examined in the scanning electron microscope. In spite of different intubation periods almost identical tissue defects with extensive areas of epithelial degeneration reaching as far as the basal lamina were found. In contrast, patients with short-term intubation, i.e. during intubation anaesthesia, showed no mucosal changes in the areas studied. The expected damage in the lower trachea caused by the cuff of the intubation tube is described and the dangers of prolonged intubation are discussed.