toggle mobile menu Menu
toggle search menu

Site Navigation

Supplemental

  • About St. Luke’s
  • Donate or Volunteer
  • Blogs
  • For Providers
  • En Español
  • Contact Us In Boise Boise
    1. Baker City
    2. Boise
    3. Buhl
    4. Caldwell
    5. Eagle
    6. Fruitland
    7. Hailey/Ketchum
    8. Jerome
    9. McCall
    10. Meridian
    11. Mountain Home
    12. Nampa
    13. New Meadows
    14. Ontario
    15. Riggins
    16. Sun Valley
    17. Twin Falls
    (208) 381-2222

Menu

Tracheostomy Surgery

Tracheostomy Surgery

Tracheostomy Surgery (00:02:01)
Video Transcript

You may need a breathing tube if you have throat cancer, a lung or nerve problem, or paralyzed vocal chords.

Or you may need one if something is blocking your airway or if you injured your mouth or neck.

A tracheostomy is a surgery to put the breathing tube through your neck and into your windpipe, or trachea.

The words tracheostomy, tracheotomy, or "trach"

are all used to talk about the surgery and the opening created by the surgery.

You will have the trach as long as you need help breathing.

First, follow your care provider's instructions for how to get ready, including what you can eat or drink and which medicines to take.

Now, here's how the surgery is done.

Before the surgery, you'll get medicine to make you sleep and keep you from feeling pain.

During the surgery, the doctor makes a small cut, an incision, to create an opening in your neck.

Then the doctor puts a breathing tube through the opening and into your trachea.

This tube, called a tracheostomy or trach tube, makes it easier for air to get to your lungs.

After the tube is put in, the opening may be left open or it may be made smaller around the tube with stitches or clips.

The surgery lasts about 30 minutes.

After surgery, you will stay in the hospital until it is safe to go home.

You'll get instructions about how to care for yourself at home.

They will cover things like how you'll breathe, speak, and eat with the trach ...

and how to prevent problems.

Your doctor will also teach you how to take care of your trach at home.

Now you know a bit more about what to expect and how to prepare for a tracheostomy.

And you can always call your care provider if you have questions or concerns.

Current as of: October 27, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Healthwise is a URAC accredited health web site content provider. Privacy Policy. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

© 1995-2025 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.