About Tracheostomy

General Information about Tracheostomy

Tracheostomy (Tray-kee-AH-stuh-mee) is a surgical opening in the trachea (windpipe) that forms a temporary or permanent opening to make breathing easier.

The terms "tracheotomy" and "tracheostomy" are used interchangeably. The opening is called a stoma.

A tracheotomy tube is inserted in the opening to keep it open.

Emergency tracheostomy is performed as a lifesaving procedure

History:

• Tracheostomy in early days was considered slashing of the neck to save a life.
• Even though tracheostomy procedure existed right from the Rig Vedas it was
• In 1718 that Lorenz Heister coined the term tracheotomy
• In 1921 Chevalier Jackson described the indications and techniques for modern tracheostomy.