Tracheostomy Care
Tracheostomy care is essential after having a surgery of this type. A tracheostomy involves making a small perforation into the trachea in the frontal part of the neck beneath the larynx. The perforation can be surgically closed in the future if necessary. This type of surgical procedure is done when the patient have severe breathing problems. Sleep apnea is a condition that can be severe enough to warrant the use of this type of procedure. Cpap is the most common treatment for sleep apnea sufferers but sometimes people prefer a more permanent type of solution when the machine is not being effective for them. Tracheostomy care must be done religiously especially the day following the procedure.
Tracheostomy a sleep apnea solution
Severe cases of sleep apnea can be treated very effectively with a tracheostomy. The surgery will allow the air to flow directly into the lungs bypassing any obstruction that could exist in the upper area of the airway. During the day time a plug is used to cover the opening and you will breathe through the nose and mouth as you always have done. In the night time the plug is removed in order for the air to flow into the lungs without obstruction.
Snoring can also be completely eliminated with this procedure. All the other side effects of sleep apnea like daytime drowsiness, headaches and heart related conditions caused by the low oxygen intake are also eliminated with the help of the operation. There are many choices when it comes to eliminate the snoring problem like nose trips, nasal sprays and snoring mouthpieces but a surgery option like tracheostomy should be used only after all other alternatives have been tried and only when life is being threatened. There is a reason for this, like all delicate medical procedures the tracheostomy care should not being taken lightly.
Surgery Drawbacks
All surgical procedures are likely to have side effects and the tracheostomy is not an exception. Sometimes the small perforation will try to close itself. The tissue surrounding the opening can become infected or damaged. There is a risk of experiencing diseases like pneumonia since the air flows directly to the lungs and is not filtered through the body natural defenses like the nose and the upper airway. After surgery the tracheostomy care will include cleaning, antibiotics and a suction machine.
A very important detail is to keep the tracheostomy tube clear from the body secretions that could prevent the airflow from going to the lungs. The suction machine is essential to keep the surgery area well cleaned to avoid any bacteria growth. Also people that have this surgery are not advised to swim or get involved in any water related activities as water can easily enter through the trachea area. Any foreign object or substance that filters inside the opening can put you in real danger and extreme caution must be taken to prevent anything from accidentally entering the opening. As you can see surgery can be effective but also has some serious implications.
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