intubated

Intubated refers to the state of having an airway tube inserted to secure a patient’s airway. The most common device is the endotracheal tube (ETT), placed through the mouth or nose into the trachea, though a tracheostomy tube placed directly into the trachea is used for longer-term ventilation. Modern adult ETTs are typically cuffed to seal the airway and enable positive-pressure ventilation. The tube is typically connected to a ventilator for controlled ventilation, and can be used with a bag-valve mask for manual ventilation if needed.

Indications for intubation include protection of the airway in patients who are comatose or heavily sedated, respiratory failure or severe hypoxemia, airway obstruction from trauma or swelling, and during anesthesia for surgical procedures. Intubation may be planned (elective) or emergent, depending on the clinical situation.

Placement is verified by clinical signs such as equal breath sounds and chest rise, and by monitors such as capnography to confirm the tube is in the trachea. After placement, the tube is secured and ongoing monitoring, sedation, and sometimes analgesia are provided. Extubation is considered when the patient can breathe adequately, maintain airway protection, and achieve satisfactory oxygenation and ventilation.

Complications can include accidental esophageal intubation, airway trauma, hypoxia, aspirational events, pneumothorax, bronchospasm, and longer-term issues such as vocal cord injury or tracheal stenosis. Alternatives to intubation include supraglottic airway devices or, for prolonged ventilation, tracheostomy.

In medical terminology, intubated describes a patient who has an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube in place to secure the airway and support ventilation.