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A tracheostomy is an opening in the front of the neck that’s made during an emergency procedure or a planned surgery. It makes an airway for people who are not breathing on their own, cannot breathe well, or have a blockage that is affecting their breathing. Sometimes people who have a disease, such as cancer, may need a tracheostomy if their disease is expected to soon cause breathing problems.

When you breathe, air is inhaled (enters) into the nose or mouth, goes through your trachea (airway), and into your lungs. When you exhale, air exits your lungs, there goes back through your trachea, and out your nose or mouth.

If you have a tracheostomy or have had a laryngectomy, you instead breathe through the stoma in your neck instead of breathing through your nose or mouth.

Why would I need a tracheostomy?

You might need a tracheostomy if you can’t breathe on your own or if you have a blockage in your airway between your nose and mouth and your lungs.

People who have head and neck cancer are at higher risk of needing a tracheostomy. You might need a tracheostomy if:

• You have a tumor that is blocking your airway
• You need to have your larynx removed (laryngectomy)
• You have or are expected to have swelling in your airway because of surgery or radiation treatment

Many people with a tracheostomy will breathe on their own through their tube. But some people might need to be put on a breathing machine connected to their tracheostomy tube.  This is common after surgery or if your muscles are too weak for you to breathe on your own.

What’s the difference between a tracheostomy and a laryngectomy?

A tracheostomy is an opening (stoma) on the front of your neck that creates a different way to breathe when your airway is blocked or you can’t breathe on your own. You might get a tracheostomy for many reasons.

A laryngectomy might be one reason you might need a tracheostomy.   Part or all of your voice box (larynx) and sometimes part of your airway are removed during this surgery. If part of your airway is removed, you might need a tracheostomy.

What will my tracheostomy look like?

A tracheostomy is a stoma (hole) in the front of your neck that connects your windpipe to the outside of your body. Your stoma should look a lot like the inside lining of your cheek and should look pink or red. It’s warm, moist, and produces mucus.

You will have a special tube placed in your stoma to help keep it open. You might have either a tracheostomy or laryngectomy tube depending on the type of surgery you had and the reason for the tracheostomy. Caring forf your stoma will be the same whether or not you have a tube . 

Some people who have a permanent tracheostomy might not need to have a tube in their tracheostomy once it heals.

More about tracheostomies