Tracheostomy - Procedure

Tracheostomy - Procedure

• The patient is made to lie down on their back with the neck & head extended by keeping a pillow under the shoulder and neck.
• Local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia is used for the procedure.
• A horizontal cut is made across the neck above the 'sternal notch' using a knife.

• The skin is separated and surrounding tissues are dissected to expose the trachea.
• The 2nd or 3rd of the tracheal ring is incised for the tracheostomy tube to be placed.
• A suitable size tracheostomy tube is then introduced inside. While choosing the tube, the smallest feasible tube should be used. A general rule is that the tube should be three fourths of the diameter of the trachea.
• The cuff of the tube is inflated by using 2-5 ml of air and it is held in place by using a necktie.
• The incision is closed using skin sutures by the side of the tracheostomy tube.
• Dressing is applied for the wound to heal.