ETT

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

ETT
Stands forEndotracheal tube
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical

ETT has two meanings. It stands for Endotracheal tube (anesthesia) or Exercise treadmill test (cardiology).

Meanings of ETT at a glance

#ETT stands forContext
1Endotracheal tubeMedical › Anesthesia
2Exercise treadmill testMedical › Cardiology

1. Endotracheal tube

Medical · Anesthesia Abbreviations

Plastic tube placed through the mouth or nose into the trachea to secure the airway and allow mechanical ventilation during general anesthesia or critical illness. Adult tubes are sized by internal diameter, commonly 7.0 to 8.0 mm, and have an inflatable cuff that seals the airway.

Example: 7.5 ETT taped at 23 cm at the lips; bilateral breath sounds and EtCO2 confirmed.

Placement is confirmed by sustained end-tidal carbon dioxide on capnography, and a chest X-ray checks depth, with the tip roughly 3 to 5 cm above the carina. Cuff pressure is kept around 20 to 30 cm H2O to prevent tracheal injury. Typical depths are about 21 cm at the teeth for adult women and 23 cm for men. In cardiology ETT means exercise treadmill test.

2. Exercise treadmill test

Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations

Stress test in which the patient walks on a treadmill with increasing speed and incline while heart rhythm, blood pressure and symptoms are monitored for ECG signs of ischemia. Most labs use the Bruce protocol, which raises intensity every three minutes.

Example: ETT: 9 minutes on Bruce protocol, 10.1 METs, no chest pain or ischemic ST changes.

Exercise ECG testing alone is less accurate than imaging-based stress tests and cannot be interpreted when the resting ECG shows LBBB or a paced rhythm. The Duke treadmill score combines exercise time, ST deviation and angina to estimate prognosis. In respiratory and anesthesia notes ETT almost always means endotracheal tube.

More anesthesia abbreviations

  • DL – Direct laryngoscopy
  • eFONA – Emergency front-of-neck access
  • ESP – Erector spinae plane (block)
  • EtCO2 – End-tidal carbon dioxide
  • FOI – Fiberoptic intubation
  • GA – General anesthesia
  • GETA – General endotracheal anesthesia
  • ISB – Interscalene brachial plexus block

See all 34 anesthesia abbreviations →

More cardiology abbreviations

  • EKG – Electrocardiogram
  • EP – Electrophysiology
  • EPS – Electrophysiology study
  • ESC – European Society of Cardiology
  • EVAR – Endovascular aneurysm repair
  • FFR – Fractional flow reserve
  • FH – Familial hypercholesterolemia
  • GDMT – Guideline-directed medical therapy

See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.