Intubation

Intubation

Intubation, also known as entubation, entails inserting a tube into a bodily opening, whether internal or external, to either introduce or extract fluids or air.

While commonly associated with tracheal intubation, the term can also encompass the insertion of a tube into the gastrointestinal tract, such as in balloon tamponade using a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.

Tracheal intubation, often simply referred to as intubation, involves placing a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (or windpipe) to keep the airway open or to facilitate the administration of specific medications.

This procedure is frequently carried out in critically injured, ill, or anesthetized patients to aid in lung ventilation, including mechanical ventilation, and to prevent potential risks of asphyxiation or airway blockage.