Synonyms
Breathing tube; ETT
Definition
Endotracheal tube (ETT) is a tube placed into the trachea for mechanical ventilation and management of a patient’s airway. The tube is placed in the patient’s trachea to ensure a patent airway allowing oxygen, anesthetics, or gaseous medications to reach the lungs.
Current Knowledge
Intubation, usually performed with general anesthesia, is the process of inserting an ETT. A laryngoscope, which consists of a blade of varying shapes and sizes, a handle, and a light source, is an instrument used to help visualize the larynx and surrounding structures. A stylet, a malleable piece of metal placed inside the ETT, can also be used to aid intubation by providing stiffness and curvature at the end of the tube allowing for easier insertion. It is removed after intubation and the ETT is attached to a ventilator or self-inflating bag. Placement of the ETT is confirmed by auscultating both sides of the chest with a stethoscope.
Indications for ETT
Endotracheal...
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References and Readings
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Sharma, A., Weintraub, A. (2018). Endotracheal Tube. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_25
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