Definition

Noun: 1. The medical procedure of inserting a tube into a hollow organ or passage of the body, typically to maintain an open airway or administer substances. This is most commonly associated with inserting a tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea (windpipe) to assist with breathing.

Usage and Examples

• General Medical Context:

  • Emergency intubation is often required for patients who cannot breathe on their own.
  • The anesthesiologist performed the intubation before the surgery began.

• Specific Context (e.g., tracheal intubation):

  • The paramedic successfully completed the intubation at the scene of the accident.
  • Nasotracheal intubation involves passing the tube through the nose.

Advanced Usage

• "Endotracheal intubation": A specific type where a tube is inserted through the mouth or nose into the trachea.

  • Endotracheal intubation is standard practice for general anesthesia.

• "Rapid sequence intubation (RSI)": A specific protocol for emergency airway management.

  • The trauma team prepared for rapid sequence intubation.

Variants and Related Words

• Intubate (verb): To perform the act of intubation.

  • The doctor needed to intubate the patient immediately.

• Extubation (noun): The removal of a tube that has been inserted, especially from the trachea.

  • The patient's condition improved, allowing for safe extubation.

Synonyms

• Cannulation (specifically refers to inserting a cannula, a type of thin tube).
• Tube insertion (a more general, non-technical term).

Related Phrases and Terminology

• Airway management: The broader medical practice of ensuring an open airway, which includes intubation as a key procedure.
• Mechanical ventilation: A treatment that often follows intubation, where a machine helps a patient breathe.

Noun

1. the insertion of a cannula or tube into a hollow body organ