Washington ? A Massachusetts company is recalling tracheostomy tubes used to help patients on ventilators breathe after receiving reports that three people died while using them.

The company told the Food and Drug Administration that there were also about 1,200 complaints of leaks involving the recalled devices, said FDA spokesman Tom Gasparoli.

Covidien, of Mansfield, Mass., said the tubes’ cuffs may not hold air from a possible leak in the pilot balloon, which could result in a sudden decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood or a sudden increase in the amount of carbon dioxide. That can lead to serious injury or death.