Endotracheal Tube Insertion

Reasons for performing an orotracheal intubation include cardiac or respiratory arrest, failure to protect airway, inadequate oxygenation or ventilation, or impending or existing airway obstruction. This endotracheal tube (ET tube) will rest within the trachea and hooks up to a breathing machine to allow for optimum oxygenation. 

As a nurse, you are responsible for monitoring vital signs and administering anesthesia medications. At this point in the patient's demise, their respiratory status is severely compromised. To induce anesthesia, the doctor will ask you to grab a variety of medications to include a sedative and pain medication. We commonly use a combination of  etomidate (sedative), versed (sedative) ketamine (sedative), or fentanyl (pain medication).  Usually there is a doctor, respiratory therapist (RT), and the nurse (you) taking part in the procedure. The RT is directly assisting the doctor by giving them the ET tube and the blade (handle) for the ET tube insertion tool. You are watching the vital signs like a hawk. That oxygen saturation level is very fragile at this point.