Injury, typically to the posterior part of both vocal cords, caused by an endotracheal tube¹. An endotracheal tube may be used briefly during general anesthesia for surgery, but may be in place for much longer in persons suffering respiratory failure or neurological injury. When severe, the hallmark vocal phenomenology of intubation injury is breathy-pressed phonation.

Intubation injury audio with photos:

Voice sample of a patient with a cricoartyenoid joint intubation injury (see this patient’s photos just below):

Photos:

1. Bastian RW, Richardson BE. Postintubation phonatory insufficiency: an elusive diagnosis. Otolaryngol Head and Neck Surg. 2001; 124(6): 625-33. ↩