 After the trachea has been intubated , a balloon cuff is typically inflated just above the far end of the tube to help secure it in place , to prevent leakage of respiratory gases , and to protect the tracheobronchial tree from receiving undesirable material such as stomach acid . The tube is then secured to the face or neck and connected to a T @-@ piece , anesthesia breathing circuit , bag valve mask device , or a mechanical ventilator . Once there is no longer a need for ventilatory assistance and / or protection of the airway , the tracheal tube is removed ; this is referred to as extubation of the trachea ( or decannulation , in the case of a surgical airway such as a cricothyrotomy or a tracheotomy ) . 
