Tracheotomy

A tracheotomy is a reversible airway surgery that is performed commonly for hospitalized patients and outpatients. Tracheotomy is performed for many reasons, including emergent need to access airway for patients who cannot be intubated, inability to safely extubate patients due to respiratory failure or upper airway masses, obstructive sleep apnea, and progressive neurodegenerative disease-causing need for prolonged airway pressure support. This article presents an overview of the terminology, indications, post-operative expectations, and maintenance of trachs for medical providers to reference when they are managing a patient who needs or already has a tracheotomy.