Ventilator-induced airway injury: a critical consideration during mechanical ventilation of the infant.

The clinical management of respiratory failure in the newborn often focuses on lung parenchymal stiffness due to immaturity, surfactant deficiency, infiltrates, and other causes. However, health care personnel should also consider the airway, which plays an important role in gas exchange and lung mechanics. The airway can be easily injured, and an injured airway can significantly alter both the acute and chronic course of lung disease in infants. Further, there are developmental changes that affect the susceptibility of the neonatal airway to injury. Recognizing and preventing causes of airway injury can help to ensure optimal outcomes for the critically ill neonate.