The difference between Endotracheal Tube and Tracheotomy Tube

Although both tracheal intubation and tracheotomy are commonly used methods to rescue critically ill patients and establish an artificial airway, there are many differences between tracheal intubation and tracheotomy, as follows:

First, tracheal intubation does not require a knife, and tracheotomy requires a knife.

Second, tracheal intubation can be done through oral tracheal intubation or through nasal tracheal intubation. Tracheotomy can only be done through the incision of the cricoid cartilage, and a fistula can be placed.

Third, it is difficult for patients with tracheal intubation to do oral care, especially for patients with orotracheal intubation, while patients with tracheotomy can do oral care at the same time.

Fourth, patients with endotracheal intubation are poorly tolerated and usually require sedatives. In contrast, patients with tracheotomy were significantly more comfortable and could reduce the use of sedatives.

Fifth, patients with tracheal intubation connected to a ventilator can be off-line without extubation, for no more than two hours. The tracheotomy patient can continue to be offline without extubation until the patient is completely healed, and then the tracheal tube can be pulled out.

In conclusion, there are many differences between tracheal intubation and tracheostomy. The clinical rescue of patients is tracheal intubation or tracheostomy, which needs to be selected according to the specific situation.