An endotracheal tube is placed when a patient is unable to breathe on their own, when it is necessary to sedate and “rest” someone who is very ill, or to protect the airway. The tube maintains the airway so that air can pass into and out of the lungs.
A endotracheal tube is a catheter that is inserted into the trachea for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a patent airway and to ensure the adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- Endotracheal intubation (EI) is often an emergency procedure that’s performed on people who are unconscious or who can’t breathe on their own. EI maintains an open airway and helps prevent suffocation.