A tracheostomy is a breathing tube placed in the neck and may be performed for a variety of reasons, including prolonged time on the ventilator (respiratory failure), upper airway obstruction, throat cancer, vocal cord paralysis, or aspiration. For patients who get a tracheostomy for prolonged time on the ventilator, the tracheostomy allows for less sedation, a more comfortable experience, and avoids the complication of subglottic stenosis (scarring beneath the vocal cords), which occurs with intubation lasting longer than 7-10 days. The tracheostomy can have a cuff (balloon) or not, and the cuff should be inflated when on the ventilator to prevent air leak. Tracheostomies are easy to remove and may be done so without surgery whenever the patient is ready. A patient may talk with a tracheostomy, but not when on the ventilator. To talk, a patient covers the hole with their finger. Special speaking valves can be used so that the patient does not have to remember to use it. When a trach is ready to be removed, first it is “capped” or closed for a number of hours and then removed.

For more information, go to:
https://www.mountsinai.org/care/ent/services/general/tracheostomy

Featured Faculty

Eric M. Genden, MD, MHCA, FACS
Dr. Isidore Friesner Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
Professor of Neurosurgery and Immunology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Director, Head and Neck Institute-Center of Excellence for Head and Neck Cancer
Mount Sinai Health System

Michael Berger, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology, Lateral Skull Base Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Raymond L. Chai, MD
Associate Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Mohemmed Nazir Khan, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Union Square

Diana N. Kirke, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
The Mount Sinai Hospital

Scott Allan Roof, MD
Assistant Professor, Head and Neck Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Marita S. Teng, MD
Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Mark Urken, MD
Chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology,
Co-Director, Institute for Head and Neck and Thyroid Cancer,
Department of Otolaryngology, Mount Sinai Union Square
Mount Sinai Health System

Zan Mra, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Brooklyn

Mark S. Courey, MD
Chief, Division of Laryngology
Director, Grabscheid Voice and Swallowing Center of Mount Sinai
Vice Chair of Quality, Department of Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System

Matthew C. Mori, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai

Aldo V. Londino III, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System

Michael A. Rothschild, MD
Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System

Zachary G. Schwam, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology, Lateral Skull Base Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System