Who needs a tracheostomy?
The most common reason for needing a tracheostomy is the use of a ventilator (VEN-til-a-tor) for more than 1 to 2 weeks. A ventilator is a machine that helps you breathe. It’s connected to a tube placed in the tracheostomy. This tube often is called a trach tube. It serves as a passage for the ventilator to send oxygen-rich air to the lungs. For people who are on ventilators and awake, a trach tube may be more comfortable than a breathing tube put through the nose or mouth and down into the windpipe. A trach tube also makes it possible for some people who are on ventilators to eat and talk. Depending on your reason for needing a ventilator, your tracheostomy may be temporary or permanent. If you need a ventilator for the rest of your life, your tracheostomy will probably be permanent. If your doctor decides that you’re able to stop using the ventilator, you may no longer need the tracheostomy. You can then let the hole close up, either on its own or with surgery.
