Definition

A tracheotomy is a surgery to make an opening in the neck. The opening is called a tracheotomy. It creates a path from the outside of the neck into the windpipe. A tube is often placed into the opening.

Reasons for Procedure

Illness or injury can make it hard to pass air through the upper airway. A tracheostomy makes a new path for air to pass through. It is most often done for people who need long-term breathing support from a machine. It may be needed for a short time or permanent. A tracheotomy may be done because:

• The airway is blocked because of:
  • Trauma to the mouth or neck area
  • Tumors or infections in the upper airway
  • Vocal cord paralysis
  • Removal of part of throat as part of cancer treatment—laryngectomy
• Respiratory failure that has caused a need for machine support to breathe, may be caused by:
  • Spinal cord injury in the neck area
  • Severe lung infection or inflammation
• The use of a machine to help with breathing for more than 2 to 3 weeks
• Injury to the airway due to breathing in smoke or steam or a harmful chemical
• Birth defects of the throat or airways
• Object blocking the throat or airways
• Severe sleep apnea
• Problems inhaling food or drink into lungs because of muscle or loss of feeling in the throat

Possible Complications

Your doctor will review a list of possible problems. Some problems may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Damage to the vocal cords, vocal cord nerves, or tube to stomach
• Scarring at the site that can cause problems at the opening or tube to the lungs
• Tube may fall out of place or be damaged
• Hard time swallowing
• Air gets trapped under the skin of the neck
• Damage to the lungs
• Low blood pressure
• Abnormal connection of tube to stomach or nearby blood vessels

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Age: infants and older adults have higher risks
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Poor nutrition
• Recent illness, especially an upper-respiratory infection
• Alcohol use disorder
• Long-term illnesses
• Use of certain medicine or recreational drugs

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

It is important for you to monitor your recovery. Alert your doctor to any problems right away. Call your doctor if you have any of these problems:

• Signs of infection, including cough, bad-smelling mucous, fever, and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Pain that you cannot control with the medications you were given
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• Symptoms worsen

Call for emergency medical services right away if:

• Your tracheostomy tube falls out and you cannot put it back in
• You are having trouble breathing through your tube

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.