INTUBATION Meaning and
Definition
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Intubation is a medical procedure in which a flexible tube, known as an endotracheal tube, is inserted into a patient’s airway to establish and maintain an open passage for air and gas exchange. It is typically performed by trained healthcare professionals, such as anesthesiologists or critical care specialists, in emergency and surgical settings.
The purpose of intubation is to ensure proper oxygenation and ventilation when a patient is unable to maintain an open airway or adequately breathe on their own due to factors such as respiratory failure, trauma, or anesthesia administration. The endotracheal tube is carefully guided through the patient's mouth or nose, passing through the vocal cords and into the trachea.
Intubation serves several vital functions. First, it allows the delivery of supplemental oxygen to support oxygenation of the body’s organs and tissues. Second, the tube enables the administration of positive pressure ventilation, which assists with the movement of air in and out of the lungs. Third, the airway tube protects the patient’s lungs from aspiration, preventing foreign substances from being inhaled.
While intubation is a life-saving procedure, it is not without risks. Complications may include injury to the teeth, vocal cords, or trachea, the development of infection or pneumonia, or damage from prolonged intubation. Careful monitoring and management of the patient's airway and respiratory function are essential throughout the process.
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The insertion of a tube into any canal or other part. Specifically, O'Dwyer's method, Bouchut's method, the passage of a specially constructed tube between the vocal cords to relieve stenosis due to the formation of a diphtheritic membrane, to edema, or to cicatricial contraction.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for INTUBATION
Etymology of INTUBATION
The word "intubation" comes from the Latin word "intubatio", which is derived from the verb "intubare". "Intubare" is a compound of "in", meaning "in" or "into", and "tuba", meaning "tube" or "pipe". It was originally used in medical contexts to refer to the insertion of a tube or cylindrical object into a bodily opening, such as the insertion of a tube into the trachea for ventilation purposes.
Similar spelling word for INTUBATION
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