Word parts
What it means
Used most in endotracheal tubeen-doh-TRAY-kee-ul toobA flexible plastic tube passed through the mouth or nose into the windpipe to keep the airway open and allow breathing support.endo- withintrache/o windpipe-al relating toFull entry (ETT), a tube placed through the mouth or nose into the trachea so a client can be ventilated during surgery or critical illness. A small balloon (cuff) near the tip seals the airway. Endotracheal suctioning removes mucus through the tube.
For the nurse
Note the tube's depth marking at the lips and check it every shift. Keep the head of the bed raised 30 to 45 degrees, give regular mouth care, and suction only as needed to help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Related terms
mechanical ventilation
Breathing support from a machine, a ventilator, that pushes air into the lungs through a tube or a mask.
endotracheal tube
A flexible plastic tube passed through the mouth or nose into the windpipe to keep the airway open and allow breathing support.
ventilator-associated pneumonia
A lung infection that starts 48 hours or more after a client has been put on a breathing machine through a tube.