intubation

noun

in·​tu·​ba·​tion ˌin-(ˌ)tü-ˈbā-shən  -(ˌ)tyü-  -tə- 

plural intubations

: the introduction of a tube into a hollow organ or part (such as the trachea or stomach) especially to maintain an open passage or gain access to the interior

endotracheal/nasogastric intubation

… the neonate experienced respiratory distress that required intubation.

—Paul J. Benke

Examples of intubation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No one except Helen is shocked when her father isn’t handling the intubation well. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025

Her condition continued to deteriorate, requiring intubation and ECMO life support. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

Pintauro shared news of the accident in a Dec. 1 Instagram post, which included footage of him lying in a hospital bed with an intubation tube in his mouth. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025

The delays in both agencies’ response times subsequently delayed Puig receiving life-saving intubation to help her breathe, contributing to her ongoing medical condition, the suit says. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

in- entry 2 + tube + -ation

Note: The term intubation was probably introduced in 1885, in the article "Treatment of Croup" by the Illinois physician Frank E. Waxham (The Chicago Medical Journal and Examiner, vol. 1, no. 6, June, 1885, p. 476). Waxham credits the use of tubes introduced into the trachea as an alternative to tracheotomy to the American physician Joseph O'Dwyer (1841-98). O'Dwyer published an initial report on the procedure as "Intubation of the Larynx," The New York Medical Journal, vol. 42, issue of August 8, 1885, pp. 145-47. O'Dwyer also uses tubage for the technique, after the French term used by the physician Eugène Bouchut, who published an earlier description ("D'une nouvelle méthode de traitement du croup par le tubage du larynx," Bulletin de l'Académie de Médecine, tome 23 [1858], pp. 1160-62).

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intubation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

intubation

noun

in·​tu·​ba·​tion

ˌin-(ˌ)t(y)ü-ˈbā-shən

: the introduction of a tube into a hollow organ or part (as the trachea) especially to maintain an open passage or gain access to the interior

intubate

ˈin-(ˌ)tyü-ˌbāt

verb

Medical Definition

intubation

noun

in·​tu·​ba·​tion ˌin-(ˌ)t(y)ü-ˈbā-shən  -tə- 

: the introduction of a tube into a hollow organ or part (such as the trachea or stomach) especially to maintain an open passage or gain access to the interior

endotracheal/nasogastric intubation

The patient's respiratory rate diminished, requiring intubation within 20 minutes after arrival to the emergency department.

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

That relieves me of the necessity of asking whether he has ever needed intubation—that extreme point where an asthmatic can no longer breathe for himself and needs a tube put down his airways so that a ventilator can do the work for him.

—Perri Klass, Discover

compare extubation