Tracheostomy

tracheostomy

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening at the front of the neck so a special tube (tracheotomy) can be inserted into the windpipe (trachea) to ventilate the patient while bypassing the upper respiratory tract. There are various reasons why this may be required. The tracheostomy can be temporary, that is to say, after a certain period of time, the patient is decannulated and the orifice is left to heal, or for a lifetime, such as in a laryngectomy. As long as the orifice remains open, breathing is mainly carried out through it.