TRACHEOSTOMY

Tracheostomy is a life saving procedure in which a hole is created in the trachea (wind pipe) for respiration in cases of airway obstruction and a trachestomy tube is inserted in the trachea through it which bypasses the upper respiratory tract. In case of emergency due to respiratory tract obstruction,this is the procedure which can save the life of a patient and every health worker whether he is a paramedic or a doctor should know how to perform it in case of emergency.

Another procedure which is quick, easy and used when no special instruments are available is cricothyrotomy or tracheotomy. In this a hole is made between the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage.