What is a tracheostomy?

A tracheotomy or tracheostomy is a gap created by surgery through the neck into the trachea (trachea) that allows direct access to the trachea and is usually performed under or under anesthesia. A tube is usually placed through this opening to provide airway and get rid of secretions from the lungs. Breathing is completed through the tracheostomy tube instead of through the nose and mouth. The term "tracheotomy" refers to an incision in a trachea (windpipe) that forms a short-term or permanent opening, called a "tracheostomy"; Terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

A trachea can be inserted inside the trachea for the first purpose of building and maintaining the patient's airways to ensure adequate exchange of oxygen and CO2. Angiplast offers a good range of tracheal tubes available in variable sizes to suit specific applications.

A tracheostomy tube duct is provided to help you breathe when the standard way of breathing is somehow blocked or reduced. Tracheostomy is usually needed when health problems require long-term use of a machine (ventilator) to help you breathe. In rare cases, an emergency tracheotomy is performed when the airway is suddenly blocked, such as after a traumatic injury to the face or neck.

Pros and cons of tracheostomy

There are two conditions during which a tracheostomy will be performed:
1) If a laryngectomy was performed (for cancer) the tracheostomy shows the patient the only way to breathe. The opening becomes permanent by closing the mucous membrane of the trachea in the skin, so no tube is needed and there is no danger of the opening-closing.

2) If the patient needs ventilator support you want a leak-proof connection between the machine and hence the airway. Each tube eventually needs to be replaced: either a cuff leak develops, or the lumen cakes with a gradual secre secretion. Separating the oro-tracheal (or nasotracheal) tube requires skill and special equipment, and once you're done, you'll want to take an X-ray to make the top of the tube neither too nor too high nor too accurate. Very little. A tracheostomy tube, by contrast, requires neither special skills nor special equipment to replace it (although most surgeons want to try a primary modification themselves). They are “pro” and so “con” is that they inevitably become colonized and sometimes become infected.

Angiplast provides two different types of tracheostomy tubes:

Plain tracheostomy tubes

The device is usually designed for long-term tracheostomy.
It is made from non-toxic siliconized PVC to protect delicate mucosal tissues.
Supplied with soft flexible flange for easy fixation.
The terminal end is suitable for 15 mm connector.
Bubble packs have individual packing.
Sterilized by ETO gas and latex-free.

Cuffed tracheostomy tubes

Non-return valve with indicator that helps cuff inflation and deflation.
The thin, smooth cuff also symmetrically eliminates the minute risk of herniation.
The terminal end is suitable for a 15 mm connector.
Individual packing in bubble pack.
Sterilized by ETO gas and latex-free.

Fenestrated tubes

Fenestrated tubes have an opening(s) on the outer cannula, which allows air to undergo the patient’s oral/nasal pharynx also because of the tracheal opening. The air movement allows the patient to talk and produces a simpler cough. However, the fenestrations increase the danger of oral or gastric contents entering the lungs. it's therefore essential that patients who are at high risk of aspiration or on positive pressure ventilation don't have a fenestrated tube unless a non-fenestrated inner cannula is employed to dam off the fenestrations.

Single- tracheostomy tubes

Single-cannula tubes were historically the primary to be sited during a critical care area. The system is a smaller amount complicated than a double-cannula tube and is typically for temporary use only. These tubes are often cuffed or uncuffed. The larger inner diameter of the single-cannula tube allows lower inflation pressures to be used when the patient is ventilated because the larger diameter offers lower resistance to gas flow. The medical care Society (ICS) in their 2008 guidance has recommended that these tubes aren't used routinely in critical care, owing mainly to concerns about them becoming occluded with secretions and therefore the difficulty in cleaning this sort of tube. Indeed, without a removable inner cannula, if these tubes do become blocked, often the sole thanks to unblocking them is to vary the entire tube. counting on the character of the stoma and therefore the condition of the patient, this will clearly be hazardous.

Double- tracheostomy tubes

Double-cannula tubes have an outer cannula to stay the airway open and an inner cannula that acts as a removable liner to facilitate the cleaning of impacted secretions. Some inner cannula is disposable; others must be cleaned and reinserted.