PCORI Grant Funds New UW Study on Breathing Tubes

Dec 4, 2024 - 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. 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? 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.