Intubation

Definition

Intubation is the medical procedure of inserting a tube into the trachea to maintain an open airway, often essential during severe respiratory infections or surgeries. It ensures that patients receive adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intubation is critical in managing severe bacterial infections like pneumonia that can compromise airway patency.
2. It helps prevent aspiration of secretions, which can worsen respiratory infections.
3. Endotracheal tubes used in intubation can serve as a route for pathogens, potentially leading to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
4. Proper sterilization and handling of intubation equipment are vital to prevent secondary infections.
5. Intubation may be necessary when a patient exhibits respiratory failure due to bacterial toxins affecting muscle function.

Review Questions

• Why is intubation crucial in severe cases of bacterial respiratory infections?
• How does improper handling of intubation equipment lead to secondary infections?
• What is ventilator-associated pneumonia, and how is it related to intubation?

Related terms

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP): A lung infection that occurs in people who are on mechanical ventilation breathing machines.

Aspiration: Inhalation of food, liquid, or other material into the respiratory tract, which can cause infection.

Respiratory Failure: A condition where the respiratory system fails to adequately exchange gases, requiring medical intervention such as intubation.