Word parts
What it means
A tube is passed through the mouth (or sometimes the nose), past the vocal cords and into the tracheaTRAY-kee-uhThe windpipe: the tube that carries air from the throat to the lungs.Full entry . A small cuff at the end is inflated to seal the airway. It keeps the airway open, protects the lungs from aspirationas-puh-RAY-shunBreathing food, liquid, saliva or stomach contents into the airway and lungs; also, drawing fluid out with suction or a needle.Full entry and lets a ventilator breathe for the client; it is done for general anesthesia and for clients who cannot breathe or protect their airway on their own.
For the nurse
After placement, listen for equal breath sounds on both sides, watch for chest rise and confirm with end-tidal CO2 as ordered; a chest x-ray confirms the position. Note the tube's mark at the lips, secure it, and give mouth care to lower the risk of pneumonia.
In a chart
"Intubated with 7.5 ETT, 22 cm at the lip; breath sounds equal bilaterally."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | ETT (endotracheal tube) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | intubación endotraqueal |
| Also written | intubation, intubate, intubated |
Related terms
mechanical ventilation
Breathing support from a machine, a ventilator, that pushes air into the lungs through a tube or a mask.
trachea
The windpipe: the tube that carries air from the throat to the lungs.
airway
The passages that carry air into and out of the lungs, from the nose and mouth to the smallest air tubes.