Does a tracheostomy hurt?
Numbing medicine (local anesthesia) or general anesthesia is used during tracheostomy tube placement. The procedure is usually associated with minimal to no discomfort. Are there any potential complications associated with a tracheostomy? The potential complications associated with the insertion of a tracheostomy tube are bleeding and infection. With time, tracheostomy tubes need to be replaced. This is accomplished by removing the existing tracheostomy tube and replacing it with a new tube through the existing opening in the windpipe. This is performed with little to no discomfort to the patient.
