What does an artificial airway include?
Artificial airways generally include endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy.
1. Endotracheal Intubation
Endotracheal intubation is usually performed with or without anesthesia, with the patient maintained in a supine position. The oral cavity, pharynx, and trachea are aligned along the same longitudinal axis. A laryngoscope is then inserted along the dorsal surface of the tongue into the airway. Once the vocal cords are visualized and open, an endotracheal tube is inserted into the trachea to complete the intubation procedure.
2. Tracheostomy
When establishing an artificial airway via tracheostomy, the decision to use anesthesia depends on the urgency of the situation and available medical resources. Typically, using specialized medical instruments or sterilized sharp tools, an incision is made through the midline of the neck into the trachea to achieve ventilation.