Tracheostomy care

The creation of a surgical airway in the form of a tracheostomy is a common procedure in which an incision is made into the trachea and a tube inserted (Serra, 2000) (Figure 1). Tracheostomies can be temporary or permanent, and are categorised as being either percutaneous or surgical.

It is important for nurses to be able to distinguish between tracheostomies and laryngectomies because, collectively, patients who have undergone these procedures may be referred to as ‘neck breathers’ but there are significant differences in the resultant anatomy (McGrath et al, 2012). A tracheostomy is performed to help patients breathe. A laryngectomy involves the removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose and oesophagus, usually because of cancer. Patients with tracheostomies are at high risk of complications and have many complexities associated with their care. Therefore, historically, they were cared for within specialised areas such as ear, nose and throat and critical care environments.