Why is the endotracheal tube used?

Endotracheal tube is a medical procedure in which a tube is inserted into the trachea to keep the airway open, usually in emergency situations or during surgery. Reasons may include: Maintaining an open airway, such as when the patient is unable to breathe on their own, or ensuring ventilation during general anesthesia. Protecting the airway from aspiration is also an important factor, such as in cases where gastric contents may be regurgitated. There are also cases where mechanical ventilation support may be required, such as in cases of severe respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.

It is mainly used in the following situations and purposes:

1. Maintain airway patency

•Dyspnea or obstruction: When the patient's airway is blocked due to coma, laryngeal edema, foreign body obstruction or severe trauma, intubation can directly open the airway and ensure that oxygen enters the lungs.

•Loss of spontaneous breathing: When respiratory arrest occurs due to cardiac arrest, severe brain damage or drug overdose, intubation is a key step in emergency life support.

2. Provide oxygen and mechanical ventilation

• Respiratory failure: When pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worsens, intubation connected to a ventilator can assist or replace the patient's breathing

• General anesthesia: During surgery, the patient cannot breathe on his own, and intubation ensures ventilation and oxygen supply during anesthesia.

3. Protect the airway and prevent aspiration

• Patients with impaired consciousness: In cases of coma, drunkenness or epileptic seizure, intubation can prevent gastric contents from flowing back into the lungs and avoid aspiration pneumonia.

• ​​Emergency surgery (especially abdominal): Patients may vomit after anesthesia, and intubation reduces the risk of aspiration.

4. Long-term treatment needs

• Intensive care: For patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation (such as severe infection, multiple organ failure), intubation is a basic measure to maintain life.

• Airway management: Patients with certain neurological diseases (such as ALS) or high spinal cord injuries may require long-term intubation.

5. Special medical scenarios

• Airway secretion management: Intubation facilitates direct suction of sputum or blood to keep the airway clean.

• Precision medication: In emergency treatment, certain drugs (such as rescue drugs) can be quickly administered through the endotracheal tube.

When is endotracheal tube needed?

• Foreseeable risks: Such as head and neck surgery may affect postoperative breathing.

• Risk of complications: including laryngeal injury, infection or misplacement of the intubation, which requires close monitoring.