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Endotracheal Tube: Purpose, What to Expert, and Risks
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Is endotracheal tube the same as intubation?
How long can the endotracheal tube stay in?
What is the difference between endotracheal tube and tracheostomy tube?
Is endotracheal intubation the same as being on a ventilator?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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An endotracheal tube (ET tube) is a flexible plastic tube that is placed through the nose or mouth into the trachea, or windpipe, to help a patient breathe. In most emergency situations, it's placed through the mouth. The endotracheal tube is then connected to a ventilator , or breathing machine, that delivers oxygen to the lungs.
The process of inserting the tube is called endotracheal intubation (EI).
There are many reasons why an endotracheal tube may be placed, including surgery or serious illness. This article will go over what endotracheal intubation is. You will learn about the procedure to put in an endotracheal tube, why endotracheal intubation is used, how to prepare for endotracheal tube placement; and the potential risks and complications of endotracheal intubation.
An endotracheal tube is placed when:
Endotracheal intubation is often used during surgery and in a variety of emergency situations. The tube maintains the airway so that air can pass into and out of the lungs.
Endotracheal intubation is commonly used during surgery. General anesthesia is commonly used for surgery to make the patient unconscious during the procedure. With it, the muscles of the body are temporarily paralyzed.
This includes the diaphragm , a dome-shaped muscle that plays an important role in breathing. Placing an endotracheal tube makes up for this, as it allows the ventilator to do the work of breathing while you're under anesthesia.
After surgery on the chest, such as lung cancer surgery or heart surgery , an endotracheal tube connected to a ventilator may be left in place to help with breathing after surgery. In this case, a person may be "weaned" from the ventilator, or slowly taken off of it, at some point during recovery.
Another way an endotracheal tube can be used is if the trachea is obstructed by something that isn't supposed to be there—for example, a wad of gum or a pen cap that's accidentally swallowed. IN this case, an endotracheal tube may be placed to help with the removal of the foreign body.
This type of obstruction happens when something is aspirated, or breathed in.
An endotracheal tube may also be placed to help prevent stomach contents from entering the airways in cases of:
In this situation, endotracheal intubation is important for preventing aspiration pneumonia , a very serious and potentially life-threatening condition caused by contents from the mouth or stomach ending up in the lungs.
Sometimes, an endotracheal tube is placed to help get a better view of a person's airway. For example, if an abnormality of the trachea, larynx (voice box), or bronchi (airways that lead from the trachea into the lungs) is suspected, an endotracheal tube may be placed to allow careful visualization of the airways.
An abnormality can be present at birth or develop later, such as with a tumor.
An endotracheal tube may be placed to support breathing if someone is having difficulty breathing due to pneumonia , a collapsed lung ( pneumothorax ), respiratory failure or impending respiratory failure, or heart failure .
Endotracheal intubation may also be used if someone is unconscious due to an overdose, stroke, or brain injury.
Some medical conditions, especially nervous system conditions , can result in full or partial paralysis of the diaphragm and may require respiratory support.
A person may need to have an endotracheal tube placed if they have:
The diaphragm may also become paralyzed due to damage or pressure on the phrenic nerves that begin at the neck and control the diaphragm. This can be related to trauma or a tumor in the chest.
If strong sedatives are needed to produce a calming effect and slow brain activity, such as when a person is very ill, an endotracheal tube may be placed to assist with breathing until the sedatives can be discontinued.
Respiratory distress in premature babies often requires the placement of an endotracheal or nasoendotracheal (inserted through the nose) tube. This is paired with mechanical ventilation.
Endotracheal tube placement with mechanical ventilation allows for the delivery of higher concentrations of oxygen than found in one's environment.
This may be needed for those with conditions or severe illnesses that lead to dangerously low oxygen levels .
Endotracheal tubes are flexible tubes that can be made from a number of different materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, or silicone. 2
Though latex tubes are not commonly used, it's important to let your healthcare provider know if you have a latex allergy .
An endotracheal tube may have one or two channels within the tube, known as a lumen. A double-lumen endotracheal tube is often used when it's necessary to ventilate each lung separately, such as in the case of lung or other chest surgeries. 3
If an endotracheal tube is already in place, an endobronchial blocker may be inserted into the tube. It has a small balloon attached to it that can be inflated to block one of the lungs.
Endotracheal tubes come in a number of different sizes ranging from 2.0 to 10.5 millimeters (mm) in diameter. In general, the largest are typically used for men and the smallest for premature infants. 4
Ultimately, though, a patient's age and body weight are the determining factors. In an emergency, when this information is not at the ready, healthcare providers often guess the right size tube to use.
You may not always know ahead of time if you'll need to have an endotracheal tube. However, if you're having a planned procedure where endotracheal intubation will be used, there are some things you can do to prepare.
If you will be having surgery with a general anesthetic, quitting smoking even a day or two before the surgery can lower your risk of complications. 5
You should not eat or drink before surgery for at least six hours beforehand to reduce the risk of aspiration during intubation.
Before an endotracheal tube is placed, your jewelry should be removed, especially tongue piercings.
You won't have time to prepare if you need to have an endotracheal tube placed in an emergency. In these cases, the providers have decided that the benefits of having an endotracheal tube outweigh the risks.
An endotracheal tube is often placed when a patient is unconscious. If a patient is conscious, medications are used to ease anxiety while the tube is placed and until it is removed.
Precise steps are usually used during endotracheal intubation. Before the tube is placed:
In some cases, a nasogastric tube that is passed from the nose through the esophagus and into the stomach may need to be placed before endotracheal intubation is done—especially if blood or vomit is present in the patient's mouth.
In the emergency department, healthcare providers usually make sure they are prepared to perform a cricothyrotomy if endotracheal intubation is not effective. This procedure establishes an airway with an incision through a membrane in the neck to access the trachea.
During endotracheal intubation, a healthcare provider usually stands at the head of the gurney looking toward the patient's feet. The patient lies flat and pillows or other types of padding may be placed under their head and/or neck to support airway access. A jaw thrust, or grasping of the jaw, may be used. 7
A lighted scope (and sometimes one with video capabilities) is inserted through the mouth to allow for a better view of the structures at the back of the throat. 8 This helps the practitioner get a view of the endotracheal tube after it is inserted through the mouth (or nose) and passes between the vocal cords.
The endotracheal tube is carefully threaded down further into the lower trachea.
When it's thought that the endotracheal tube is in the proper location, the provider listens to the patient's lungs and upper abdomen to make sure that the endotracheal tube was not inadvertently inserted into the esophagus .
If the endotracheal tube is not properly placed, it cannot ventilate the lungs. Improper positioning is particularly common in children, especially children with traumatic injuries.
Other signs that suggest the endotracheal tube is in the proper position include seeing chest movement with ventilation and fogging in the tube.
When a provider is reasonably sure the endotracheal tube is in position, a balloon cuff is inflated to keep the tube from moving out of place. (This may not be needed in infants.) The external part of the tube is then taped to the patient's face.
In the field, paramedics may have a device that changes color as it detects carbon dioxide, which is expelled during exhalation. The color change helps them determine if the endotracheal tube is in the correct position. 9
In hospitals, a chest X-ray is often done to confirm the accurate placement of an endotracheal tube. However, a 2016 review suggests that this alone is often inadequate. Researchers say the same about pulse oximetry (a measure of oxygen level in the blood) and physical examination.
They instead recommend that practitioners use an end-tidal CO2 detector to measure exhaled concentrations of carbon dioxide whenever possible. In addition, they recommend continued monitoring to make sure the tube does not become displaced. 10
For patients in cardiac arrest , which means their heart stopped beating, monitoring can be more difficult. Movements of the patient and equipment may displace the endotracheal tube. Ultrasound imaging or an esophageal detector device may be used for monitoring after the patient is stable. 10
After the endotracheal tube is in place and a patient is connected to a ventilator, providers will continue to monitor the tubing and settings. They will also provide medications and suctioning of respiratory secretions as needed to maintain the airway.
Careful attention to oral care, such as mouth rinse or tooth brushing, will also be provided to help reduce the risk of infection while a person has endotracheal intubation. 11
Due to the location of the tube, patients who are conscious will be unable to talk while the tube is in place. 12
As with talking, eating will also be impossible while the endotracheal tube is in place. When mechanical ventilation is needed for only a short period of time, intravenous fluids are usually adequate and can prevent dehydration.
If the tube must be left in place for more than a few days, some type of feeding tube will be needed to provide nutrition and oral medications.
Feeding tube options for a person who has endotracheal intubation include:
Before removing an endotracheal tube ( extubation ) and stopping mechanical ventilation, healthcare providers carefully assess a patient to predict whether or not they will be able to breathe on their own.
If it's thought that the endotracheal tube can be reasonably removed, the tape holding the tube on the face is removed, the cuff is deflated, and the tube is pulled out.
Being on a ventilator for surgery is a major risk factor for a collapsed lung. 14 Patients are often asked to cough after surgery, which encourages deep breathing and clearing of anything that may have accumulated in the lungs.
They will also be asked to move around as soon as possible to help get muscles moving and reduce the risks of complications.
For some people, weaning off of a ventilator will not be possible. When this is the case, a patient may need to have a neck incision to place a tracheostomy tube—one that is inserted into the trachea to facilitate breathing. 15
Those who are likely to be taken off eventually may still have difficulty weaning from a ventilator. This may occur in people who have lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or have had lung cancer surgery , for example.
These patients are carefully monitored for signs that extubation may be successful and to make sure potential problems, such as a persistent air leak around the cuff, are addressed.
A sore throat 16 and hoarseness are common side effects after the removal of an endotracheal tube. These usually resolve within a few days. 17
It's estimated that temporary hoarseness for up to one week after the endotracheal tube is removed occurs in about one-third to half of all patients. Hoarseness that persists longer than a week can happen, but it is estimated to occur less than 1% of the time. 17
Endotracheal intubation is often a life-saving procedure, but it carries serious risks and potential complications.
The complications are often associated with intubation that lasts more than seven days. 17
Many complications of endotracheal tube intubation occur during placement or shortly after the endotracheal tube is removed.
These risks and complications can include: 17
Prolonged endotracheal intubation is a risk factor for many complications, including those that persist long term or arise days or weeks afterward.
These complications can include: 17
There are many potential uses for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. An endotracheal tube can be an important way to keep an airway open or offer protection in many life-threatening emergencies or surgeries. It can also be a means to view or protect the airways.
The most common side effects of endotracheal intubation are hoarseness or sore throat afterward that typically resolves within a few days. The risk of more serious complications increases if someone needs to be intubated for more than seven days.
Intubation is the process of putting an endotracheal tube in. It's sometimes called endotracheal intubation.
The standard limit for how long an endotracheal tube can stay is three weeks. If a patient is unable to breathe on their own at that point, they likely will undergo a tracheostomy . 18 However, some research suggests it may be beneficial to progress to a tracheostomy sooner to prevent damage to the vocal cords . 19
An endotracheal tube is threaded through the mouth and down the throat into the lungs. A tracheostomy tube is placed through an incision in the neck into the trachea and is held in place by a collar. 20
Intubation is the process of inserting an endotracheal tube into the trachea. If it's being done to assist breathing, the endotracheal tube is then connected to a ventilator.
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Hua F, Xie H, Worthington HV, Furness S, Zhang Q, Li C. Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia . Cochrane Oral Health Group, ed. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . October 25, 2016. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008367.pub3
London Health Sciences Center. Endotracheal tube; ETT . Central Care Trauma Centre (online). 2014.
Jiang C, Esquinas A, Mina B. Evaluation of cough peak expiratory flow as a predictor of successful mechanical ventilation discontinuation: a narrative review of the literature. J Intensive Care . 2017;5(1):33. doi:10.1186/s40560-017-0229-9
Miskovic A, Lumb AB. Postoperative pulmonary complications . British Journal of Anaesthesia . 2017;118(3):317-334. doi:10.1093/bja/aex002
Engels PT, Bagshaw SM, Meier M, Brindley PG. Tracheostomy: From insertion to decannulation . Can J Surg . 2009;52(5):427–433.
Hu B, Bao R, Wang X, et al. The size of endotracheal tube and sore throat after surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Xie Z, ed. PLoS ONE . 2013;8(10):e74467. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074467
Touman AA, Stratakos GK. Long-term complications of tracheal intubation . Tracheal Intubation . 2018. doi:10.5772/intechopen.74160
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Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung
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