Intubation is a complex and life-saving technique for the surgical airway. It is also a skill that requires great attention to detail, precision, and skill, not to mention practice. For all these reasons, it can be difficult for managers of the non-surgical airway to find time in the day to teach their staff how to intubate efficiently and effectively.
What is Intubation?
Intubation is the process of inserting a breathing tube into a patient's airway. This may be done for a number of reasons, including to provide respiratory support in cases of an emergency or to prevent life-threatening hypoxia. Intubation is often performed by a medical professional such as a doctor, nurse, or respiratory therapist. To know more about intubation, you can simply visit https://www.accessairways.com/.
There are several types of tubes used during intubation: endotracheal tube (ET), laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and tracheostomy tube (TT). ETs are the most common type used and are inserted through the mouth and down the throat into the lungs. LMA devices use a piece of plastic that fits over the nose and mouth to keep air from escaping and protect against aspiration. TTs are inserted through the nose and into the windpipe (trachea). They allow patients to breathe independently with assistance if needed.
After determining which type of intubation will be necessary, other equipment required for care may also be brought into play. For example, during open intubation, the doctor will need a scalpel or scissors to cut away excess clothing so that the ETT can be inserted properly. To avoid causing trauma during intubation, special gloves must also be worn that fit tightly around both hands.
