Endotracheal tube cuff leak with mysterious laryngotracheal pathology.

A 63 year-old obese man with gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, and no known history of airway pathology was to undergo a total knee arthroplasty. After intubation, however, repeated cuff leaks, decreasing tidal volumes, and desaturations prompted five additional endotracheal tube placements. Findings on radiography, computed tomography, and fiberoptic laryngoscopy and tracheoscopy were equivocal. Factors contributing to this challenge of persistent and repeated cuff leaks in the absence of known airway pathology could include various laryngotracheal abnormalities.