Intubation is the process of inserting a tube into the stomach or windpipe for various medical reasons. Intubation trauma refers to injuries caused by improper placement, prolonged use, or pre-existing medical conditions. Examples of injuries include lesions, perforations, ulcers, and nodules. Treatment varies depending on the severity and location of the injury.
Medical professionals use intubation, the process of inserting a tube into the stomach or windpipe, to increase airflow or open the airways, to deliver nutrients, or to administer drugs. Intubation trauma is an umbrella term used to describe an injury to the nose, mouth, throat, stomach, or endolaryngeal structures as a direct result of intubation. Typically, intubation trauma is the result of improper placement of an intubation tube, poorly chosen tubes, pre-existing medical conditions, or prolonged use of intubation. The lesions can range from simple inflammation to lesions, perforations, ulcers or the development of nodules.
Physicians and healthcare professionals choose to use intubation for a variety of healthcare situations, including the routine administration of anesthesia or medical emergencies. Depending on your specific situation, a doctor might insert a tube through your nose or mouth. The tubes can be fed from nose to windpipe, nose to stomach, mouth to windpipe, or mouth to stomach. In an emergency situation where the patient’s airway is blocked due to trauma or a medical emergency, the patient may also be intubated through an incision in the throat. Each of these methods offers opportunities for different types of intubation trauma or injury.
According to the strict definition of the term, intubation trauma is an injury or shock to the systems involved in intubation. While many intubation injuries occur during the process of inserting tubes into a patient, some injuries are the result of prolonged use of an intubation tube. The severity of the injury depends on the cause. For example, a poorly placed tube can cause lesions in the mucosa around the endolaryngeal structures or in the nasal passages. Poor selection of tube sizes, and even some types of tubes, can cause inflammation in the larynx and other soft tissue structures.
Examples of intubation trauma include gastric perforation; lesions on the mucosa of the pharynx, larynx or esophagus; soft tissue perforation in the neck or throat; as well as damage to the vocal cords. Excessive force is the most common cause behind such intubation trauma. Inexperienced practitioners are more likely to cause intubation injuries, particularly those resulting from inadvertent feeding of the tube through the esophageal tract rather than through the trachea. The formation of ulcers and nodules can result from intubation trauma, causing problems with breathing and speech. Treatment for an intubation-related injury varies depending on the location of the injury, its cause, and its severity.
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