extubation

Extubation is the medical procedure of removing a tube that was placed into a patient's airway through the throat (trachea) to assist with breathing, often called an endotracheal tube. This tube supports breathing during surgery or illness when a person cannot breathe adequately on their own. Once the patient regains sufficient strength and ability to breathe independently, the doctor carefully removes the tube. This process requires careful assessment to ensure the patient can breathe effectively without assistance and is a critical step in recovery from conditions like surgery, respiratory failure, or critical illness.