What is EI?

(Endotracheal Intubation)

Endotracheal intubation (EI) is often an emergency procedure that’s performed on

people who are unconscious or who can’t breathe on their own. EI maintains an open
airway and helps prevent suffocation.

In a typical EI, you’re given anesthesia. Then, a flexible plastic tube is placed into
your trachea through your mouth to help you breathe. The trachea, also known as the
windpipe, is a tube that carries oxygen to your lungs. The size of the breathing tube is
matched to your age and throat size. The tube is kept in place by a small cuff of air
that inflates around the tube after it is inserted. Your trachea begins just below your
larynx, or voice box, and extends down behind the breastbone, or sternum. Your
trachea then divides and becomes two smaller tubes: the right and left main bronchi.
Each tube connects to one of your lungs. The bronchi then continue to divide into
smaller and smaller air passages within the lung.

Your trachea is made up of tough cartilage, muscle, and connective tissue. Its lining is
composed of smooth tissue. Each time you breathe in, your windpipe gets slightly
longer and wider. It returns to its relaxed size as you breathe out. You can have
difficulty breathing or may not be able to breathe at all if any path along the airway is
blocked or damaged. This is when EI can be necessary.

How EI is done?

EI is usually done in the hospital, where you’ll be given anesthesia. In emergency

situations, a paramedic at the scene of the emergency may perform EI.

In a typical EI procedure, you’ll first receive an anesthetic. Once you’re sedated, your
anesthesiologist will open your mouth and insert a small instrument with a light called
a laryngoscope. This instrument is used to see the inside of your larynx, or voice box.
Once your vocal cords have been located, a flexible plastic tube will be placed into
your mouth and passed beyond your vocal cords into the lower portion of your
trachea. In difficult situations, a video camera laryngoscope may be used to give a
more detailed view of the airway.

Your anesthesiologist will then listen to your breathing through a stethoscope to make
sure that the tube is in the right place. Once you no longer need help breathing, the
tube is removed. During surgical procedures and in the intensive care unit, the tube is
connected to a ventilator, or breathing machine, once it’s in the proper place. In some
situations, the tube may need to be temporarily attached to a bag. Your
anesthesiologist will use the bag to pump oxygen into your lungs.

Why is endotracheal intubation done?

>You may need this procedure for any of the following reasons:

>to open your airways so that you can receive anesthesia, medication, or oxygen
>to protect your lungs

>you’ve stopped breathing or you’re having difficulty breathing

>you need a machine to help you breathe

>you have a head injury and cannot breathe on your own

>you need to be sedated for a period of time in order to recover from a serious injury
or illness

*EI keeps your airway open. This allows oxygen to pass freely to and from your lungs
as you breathe.