 The most widely used route is orotracheal , in which an endotracheal tube is passed through the mouth and vocal apparatus into the trachea . In a nasotracheal procedure , an endotracheal tube is passed through the nose and vocal apparatus into the trachea . Other methods of intubation involve surgery and include the cricothyrotomy ( used almost exclusively in emergency circumstances ) and the tracheotomy , used primarily in situations where a prolonged need for airway support is anticipated . 
