Arid Airways: Airway Mucosal Injury with Nonhumidified Invasive Ventilation

Lee et al discuss the case of a 19-year-old man who developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to e-cigarette- or vaping-associated lung injury. On presentation, there was no history of concomitant device combustion, bum, or caustic airway exposure related to vaping. His prolonged hospital course was complicated by bilateral persistent pneumothoraces in the setting of progressive tibrotic lung damage and chronic mechanical ventilation dependence. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed diffuse airway mucosal desiccation.