Medical tracheotomy, also known as a tracheostomy, is a medical procedure in which an incision is made on the front of the neck and a tube is inserted through the incision into the trachea (windpipe) to create an alternative airway. This tube, called a tracheostomy tube or trach tube, allows air to enter the lungs directly, bypassing the mouth, nose, and throat. Tracheostomy is often performed when a person is under anesthesia for a surgery or procedure that makes normal breathing impossible, or when a person has a medical condition that makes it difficult to breathe. These conditions may include coma, chronic lung disease, diaphragm dysfunction, birth defects of the airway, obstruction of the airway, injury to the larynx, or the need for prolonged ventilation support.
There are different types of tracheostomy tubes, which vary in size and purpose. A typical tracheostomy tube consists of three parts: an outer cannula, an inner cannula, and an obstructor. The outer cannula is a rigid tube that is held open with the help of neck flanges, while the inner cannula is a flexible tube that fits inside the outer cannula. The obstructor is a guide that helps position the tracheostomy tube.
Tracheostomy tubes are often used in operating rooms, surgery wards, and intensive care units to help patients breathe while on ventilators. They may also be used in emergency situations, such as when a patient cannot breathe easily. In these cases, disposable tracheostomy kits are used to create a hole in the throat and insert a tracheostomy tube at the site of the emergency. Tracheostomy may also be performed in an operating room with local anaesthesia, which makes the patient unconscious and unaware of the procedure. In this case, the tracheostomy tube is inserted to provide ventilation support for chronic lung infections, diaphragm diseases, or dysfunction. Tracheostomy tubes are also a vital part of ventilation support, as they are used to deliver oxygen mixed with other gases directly to the lungs. While facemasks are often used for this purpose, tracheostomy tubes may be necessary in certain critical situations. In most cases, tracheostomy tubes are temporary and are removed when no longer needed. Tracheostomy kits are also available for emergencies, which are a crucial component of medical tracheotomy due to their compact and portable nature.
