intubate

verb

in·​tu·​bate ˈin-(ˌ)tü-ˌbāt  -(ˌ)tyü-  -tə- 

intubated; intubating; intubates

transitive + intransitive

: to perform intubation on : to subject to intubation

The anesthesiologist resuscitates and intubates—if necessary—newborns in distress.

—Joseph J. Neuschatz

… female presented to the ED [emergency department] in a coma 90 minutes after ingesting approximately 8 g of nortriptyline. She was intubated, lavaged, and received activated charcoal.

—R. Rasmussen and P. E. McKinney

The trachea was intubated … and 100% oxygen was administered …

—Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh et al.

No one, amid the rush to intubate, had thought to prick the patient's finger and check his blood glucose level …

—Tony Dajer

Examples of intubate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her friend was in critical condition and had suffered an open pelvic fracture, which required her to be intubated and transferred to Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford for surgery. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 Dec. 2024

The victim was later intubated at the hospital and suffered a broken nose, cracked teeth and required several stitches from his injuries. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024

Two of the overdoses were fatal, another required the person to be placed on life support, and the fourth required the person to be intubated. —Brennan Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 19 Nov. 2024

He was intubated and flown to a specialized burn unit at the University of Utah’s Huntsman hospital. —J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from intubation

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

intubate

verb

in·​tu·​bate ˈin-(ˌ)t(y)ü-ˌbāt  -tə- 

intubated; intubating; intubates

transitive + intransitive

: to perform intubation on : to subject to intubation

These patients should be intubated regardless of the blood gas results. ABG measurements, however, can assist in the decision to intubate less severely stressed patients.

—James W. Holcroft et al., Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery, 13th edition

I'm very nervous, because I haven't intubated many children and I'm not sure how big she is or what size endotracheal tube I'll need.

—Valerie Norton, in Emergency!

No one, amid the rush to intubate, had thought to prick the patient's finger and check his blood glucose level …

—Tony Dajer, Discover

Twenty consecutive pediatric patients … whose tracheas had been intubated for various causes of respiratory failure, and who had received a CT scan, were included in our study.

—Kevin R. Bock et al., Chest