During the course of some diseases and medical conditions, people may have trouble breathing on their own. Whether it be from an airway blockage, tumors, neurological issues, or other conditions, your loved ones may receive a procedure that creates an opening into the neck that helps air reach the lungs.
You may have heard the terms tracheostomy and tracheotomy used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same thing. Today we’ll explain the difference and much more.
If your loved one has a tracheostomy or is about to receive one and needs skilled nursing support in Arizona, Haven Health offers excellent facilities and staff for tracheostomy care at our Tucson and the Phoenix Sky Harbor locations.
What Is The Difference Between A Tracheotomy And A Tracheostomy?
The term tracheotomy refers to the actual operative procedure used to make an incision into the windpipe (officially known as the trachea). During the procedure, the doctor will make a small incision in the throat into the windpipe and place a tube-like medical device into the neck to keep the opening from closing back up.
The opening itself is called a tracheostomy. These can be either permanent or temporary and are generally referred to as a stoma.
Why These Procedures Are Needed
There are several reasons someone may need a tracheotomy. The most common is breathing support. Several diseases and conditions attack the airways that help us breathe, and the tracheotomy procedure helps keep airflow to the lungs. For patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation, the tracheostomy tube provides a more stable way to support breathing.
Airway blockages are another common reason someone may need a tracheostomy. Blockages can happen due to a number of conditions, including a tumor, swelling of the airways, congenital conditions, and more. Trauma and injury can also be a cause.
Additionally, neurological and muscular conditions can affect breathing as well, making tracheostomy necessary. Spinal cord injuries, strokes, and other neuromuscular diseases can require the operation.
What To Expect After The Procedure
Depending on the reason for the tracheotomy procedure, the patient’s overall health, and other factors, recovery after treatment will vary, and the new stoma will likely take some getting used to. Proper care and support, of the kind we offer at Haven Health, will be crucial to a smooth and healthy transition.
Immediately after the surgery, patients will be closely monitored in the hospital. Within a few days or weeks, patients can usually transfer to a skilled nursing setting. In a skilled nursing facility, patients’ daily needs are cared for 24 hours a day, by a team of licensed nurses, overseen by a physician.
Daily care needs include cleaning of the tracheostomy, suctioning mucus and other undesirable fluids from the site, tube replacement and cleaning, feeding, monitoring of infection, and much more.
Our support staff also includes several rehabilitation specialists, including speech, physical, and occupational therapists, who help our patients readjust to the stoma, as well as re-learn activities of daily living.
Risks and Considerations
Like every medical procedure, the tracheotomy procedure carries risks. The main risk post-surgery is infection. If not cared for properly, the stoma site can become infected, which is both uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening, if not treated promptly.
If not cared for properly over time, the tracheostoma can also become blocked, making breathing difficult or impossible. Mucus plugs, tube displacement, and other blockages may become emergencies, if not monitored.
Less deadly concerns can include irritations around the stoma site and other discomfort.
When Skilled Nursing Is Needed
Many patients with tracheostomy need skilled nursing care, whether long- or short-term.
Immediately after the procedure, many patients benefit from stoma care and may take advantage of services offered at Haven Health, including speech and occupational therapy that can help with the adjustment period.
Others with complex medical needs need long-term care. Our long-term care teams can assist with things, such as respiratory and vitals monitoring, suction management, emergency support, and more.
How Haven Health Can Help And Where Care Is Available
Haven Health is proud to offer specialized tracheostomy care, respiratory management, and support services for patients with a tracheostomy. We offer dedicated tracheostomy care at our Tucson and Sky Harbor locations.
All our facilities are state-of-the-art, staffed by kind, caring, and highly trained professionals, and our patient-centered approach to care is second to none. When you choose Haven Health, you’re never a number to us, and we treat you and your family with respect.
Sources:
Raimonde, A., et al. (2023). Tracheostomy.
Toker, A., et al. (2020). Tracheotomy, Closure of Long-Term Tracheostomy and Standard Tracheal Segmental Resections.
Tracheostomy. (2026).