What are the risks of having an endotracheal tube inserted?

Risks: Risks of inserting endotracheal tube (et) include damaging vocal cords, teeth, or back of throat when using laryngoscope. Worse, the tube could accidentally be placed in the esophagus instead of the trachea, which results in hypoxia -- also potentially vomiting stomach contents into lungs. Placing et too deeply might ventilate only one lung -- possibly resulting in pneumothorax and hypoxia.