Post intubation trauma: A prospective autopsy study.

Prolonged intubation of the trachea in the treatment of acute respiratory failure has become common in intensive care units during last two decades. Although intubation of the trachea confers great advantage, lesions of the larynx and the trachea may result and are severe on occasions. Hence, it is important that, our knowledge regarding the effects of intubation on the respiratory tract needs to be expanded with all available means of study. This at times can be a challenging issue in routine medicolegal work, as they are of potential nature for misinterpretation and needs caution in interpreting.