Coughing, suctioning, and humidification can help reduce secretions. Preventing the buildup of secretions is an important part of tracheostomy care. People who have a tracheostomy typically experience ...

The tube, called a "trach" (trayk) for short, has three parts. The "Obturator" that is used to pass the trach into the windpipe. An "Outer cannula" (tube). This Outer cannula has a plastic "trach ...

Accidentally dislodging a tracheostomy tube within a week of the procedure is a medical emergency. However, a person may be able to reinsert longer-term tracheostomy tubes at home. A tracheostomy is ...

People with tracheostomies can generally talk, although it may take some practice. Some people can use special speaking valves that attach to tracheostomy tubes, allowing for easier speech. A ...

The third article in our series on tracheostomy care discusses the care of patients with a permanent tracheostomy. While these patients make up a small proportion of all patients who have a ...

A tracheostomy, also known as a tracheotomy, is a medical procedure that involves creating an opening in the neck in order to place a tube into a person’s trachea, or windpipe. The tube may be ...

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death in 2014 concluded that tracheostomy care fell below what is safe and reasonable to expect, and that staff needed training in this ...

Gaps in training may put patients with tracheostomies in life-threatening situations, the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warned. The tubes are fitted to allow patients to breathe and ...

Some tubes have an inflatable cuff near the outer end to keep them from coming out and to prevent air from leaking around them. As long as the tracheostomy tube is in place, the inner cannula should ...