endotracheal tube

Thân thiện

A doctor carefully inserts an endotracheal tube into a patient's mouth.

Definition

Noun: A flexible plastic tube that is inserted through a person's mouth or nose, down the windpipe (trachea), to establish and maintain an open airway. Its primary functions are to ensure a clear passage for air to reach the lungs, to allow for the delivery of oxygen or anesthetic gases, to enable the removal of secretions, and to protect the lungs from the aspiration of stomach contents or other fluids.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The paramedic quickly inserted an endotracheal tube to help the unconscious patient breathe.
  • During major surgery, the anesthesiologist secures the endotracheal tube to deliver precise amounts of anesthetic gas.
  • The ICU team used suction through the endotracheal tube to clear the patient's airways of mucus.

Advanced Usage

• "To be intubated with an endotracheal tube": This is the standard medical phrase describing the procedure of inserting the tube.
  • The patient in respiratory failure was immediately intubated with an endotracheal tube.

Variants and Related Words

• Intubation (n): The process of inserting an endotracheal tube.
  • Emergency intubation is a critical skill for doctors in the ER.
• Tracheostomy tube (n): A different type of breathing tube inserted directly into the trachea through a surgical opening in the neck, used for long-term airway management.
• Endotracheal (adj): Pertaining to the inside of the trachea.
  • The endotracheal procedure was performed successfully.

Synonyms

• Breathing tube: A general, non-technical term.
• ET tube: A common abbreviation used in medical contexts.
• Airway catheter: A descriptive synonym referencing its form and function.

Related Phrases

• "Securing the tube": The act of fastening the endotracheal tube in place, typically with tape or a specialized holder, to prevent accidental removal.
  • After insertion, the nurse assisted in securing the tube.
• "Tube placement verification": The critical step of confirming the endotracheal tube is correctly positioned in the trachea, usually via chest X-ray or a device called a capnograph.
  • A chest X-ray is standard for tube placement verification.

Related Concepts

• Mechanical ventilation: A primary use for an endotracheal tube is to connect a patient to a ventilator, a machine that assists or controls breathing.
  • The patient with the endotracheal tube was placed on mechanical ventilation.
• Airway management: The broader medical discipline that includes procedures like endotracheal intubation to ensure an open airway.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a catheter that is inserted into the trachea through the mouth or nose in order to maintain an open air passage or to deliver oxygen or to permit the suctioning of mucus or to prevent aspiration of the stomach contents