Why tracheostomy is needed

A tracheostomy is sometimes needed if you're unable to breathe normally because ofan underlying health condition or a blocked airway. Breathing problems A tracheostomy can deliver oxygen to the lungs if you can'tbreathe normally. This is known as respiratory failure. Conditions that can lead to respiratory failure and the need for a tracheostomy include: being unconscious or in a Coma as a result of a severe head injury or stroke an inability to move one or more muscles (paralysis) after a seriousspinal cordinjury acondition that damages the lungs, such as pneumonia or cystic fibrosis acondition that damages the nervous system, such as motor neurone disease or Guillain-Barr syndrome In some cases, a tube attached to an artificial breathing machine (ventilator) is inserted into the mouth and down the throat. But this can be uncomfortable, so a tracheostomy may be carried out if you need help breathing formore than a few days. Blockages A tracheostomy canalso be used to bypass an airway that's become blocked as a result of: accidentally swallowing something that gets stuck in the windpipe (trachea) an injury, infection, burn or severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that causes the throat to become swollen and narrowed swelling after head or neck surgery a cancerous tumour this can sometimes happen with mouth cancer , laryngeal cancer or thyroid gland cancer In addition, some children born with birth defects thatcause their airways to be abnormally narrow may need a tracheostomy to help them breathe. Removing fluid It may be necessary to carry out a tracheostomy to remove fluid that's built up in the airways. This may be needed if you: areunable to cough properlybecause ofchronic pain, muscle weakness or paralysis have a serious lung infection, such as pneumonia, that has caused your lungs to become clogged with fluid your airways or lungs have filled with blood as a result of an injury