Understanding Tracheostomy Tubes: Types, Sizes, Inner Cannula, and Price Guide
A tracheostomy tube is a small, curved device inserted into a surgical opening in the neck (the stoma) to help a person breathe when their natural airway is blocked or not working properly. It lets air travel directly into the windpipe, bypassing the nose, mouth, and throat. These tubes are commonly used for patients needing long-term ventilator support, facing airway obstructions, recovering from head or neck surgery, or dealing with neurological conditions that affect breathing. What Is a Tracheostomy Tube? A Tracheostomy tube is a hollow, curved tube placed into the trachea through a stoma to keep the airway open, allowing air to flow directly into the lungs and bypassing any blockage higher up. A tracheotomy is the surgical procedure that creates the neck opening, while a tracheostomy refers to the resulting stoma and ongoing tube use. People often use the terms interchangeably, though technically one's the surgery and the other's the outcome. Why Is It Used? Tracheostomy ...