Study aims to reduce long-term issues from breathing tubes after critical illness

When people face a severe illness, many rely on breathing machines to stay alive. These machines deliver oxygen to the lungs through a breathing tube that passes through the mouth and beyond the voice box. While most patients eventually recover and can breathe independently, some are left with lasting challenges—like trouble breathing, speaking, or swallowing—that can greatly affect their quality of life. 

Despite millions of patients needing breathing tubes every year, it's unknown which tube size works best for seriously ill patients. That’s where a new grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) comes in. This funding will support a team of researchers working to help doctors make better decisions about the best tube site for their patients. 

Dr. Andrew Latimer from the UW Department of Emergency Medicine will serve as co-investigator alongside Dr. Steve Mitchell, the Principal Investigator for the University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center site. They’ll work with Dr. John Casey and Dr. Alex Gelbard, who are heading the project at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

This study will take place across seven hospitals in the U.S. and aims to answer two big questions: Can smaller breathing tubes help prevent long-term problems like trouble breathing, speaking, or swallowing? And are smaller tubes just as effective as larger ones in helping patients recover and get off the breathing machine? 

“Choosing the right size breathing tube for critically ill patients isn’t just about technical precision—it can make a huge difference in how well patients recover and their quality of life afterward,” said Mitchell. 

The research team includes six patients who’ve experienced serious illness, seven doctors who care for critically ill patients, and researchers from seven hospitals with experience in this field. The hope is that this study will improve care for thousands of patients. 

“This could reduce long-term issues like breathlessness and loss of voice while still providing effective treatment during critical care,” Mitchell explained. 

This award has been approved pending completion of PCORI’s business and programmatic review and issuance of a formal award contract. 

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress with a mission to fund patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research that provides patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information they need to make better-informed health and healthcare decisions.