TracheostomyAlthough often performed as an emergency procedure, tracheostomy may also be required for urgent and even elective reasons. The procedure involves making an incision in the front of the neck into the windpipe to allow breathing when the voice box or upper airway is obstructed or to permit long term ventilation through a tube inserted into the windpipe. The latter is most common in critically ill patients who have been intubated for a prolonged period of time. The tracheostomy procedure allows them to remove the tube from inside the voice box where it can cause long-term consequences and allows them to more easily care for the patients’ lungs and overall recovery. Tracheostomy may be temporary or permanent. Patients who are alert can learn to speak clearly and swallow with a tracheostomy tube in place. The reasons you should be considering this procedure will be discussed with Dr. Speyer prior to scheduling. All of the possible indications are too many to list here and should be reviewed with Dr. Speyer with regards to your specific needs. Dr. Speyer will discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives to this procedure with you in detail. Listed below are some of the disclosed risks of undergoing tracheostomy. By reading and signing below, you are stating that you indeed understand the nature of the procedure, the risks as listed, and alternatives to undergoing the procedure. Risks of tracheostomy include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, escape of air into tissues of the neck and chest (subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax, respectively), and scar formation from the tracheostomy site. Once no longer needing the tracheostomy, patients typically heal the wound without formal surgery to close the site as it closes by itself naturally. Rarely, this has to be surgically closed. Lastly, since you are undergoing a general anesthetic, this alone carries its own risks regardless of the surgery considered. The risks of general anesthesia include, but are not limited to, the risk of heart attack, stroke, drug reactions, and even death. You should discuss your specific risks assessment with the anesthesiologist attending the case.
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