Both tracheostomy and cricothyrotomy help people breathe when airways are blocked. Cricothyrotomy is an emergency procedure while tracheostomy is for people who need long-term assistance with ...

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 ...

Percutaneous tracheostomy is a minimally invasive procedure doctors perform to establish an artificial airway. It is an alternative to traditional surgical tracheostomy. People with critical illnesses ...

Tracheostomy suctioning is a procedure that helps clear mucus secretions in people with a tracheostomy tube. Some individuals may require frequent suctioning, for example, if they have a lung ...

Tracheostomy should be considered in patients with acute respiratory failure who require prolonged mechanical ventilation — defined as ventilation for 7 days or more — and who are expected to have a ...