What is a tracheostomy?
Child with tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is an opening through the neck into the windpipe (trachea) below the voice box or vocal cords (larynx) [2, 3]. This opening is called a stoma.
The stoma is kept open by a tracheostomy tube which is secured around the neck with ties [2]. Having a tracheostomy changes the way a person breathes [3]. Usually air is breathed in through the nose and mouth where it is warmed, moistened and filtered [3]. Air then goes through the windpipe and into the lungs [2, 3]. Air that is breathed out usually passes through the voice box so we can speak [2].
With a tracheostomy, air passes directly in and out of the windpipe [2]. Therefore a child with a tracheostomy will need help to warm and moisten air that is breathed and to communicate [2, 3].
» Video of what is a tracheostomy [wmv]