<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Tracheotomy (US: / ˌtreɪkiˈɒtəmi / tray - kee - AW - tə - mee) is a surgical procedure which consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (windpipe). The resulting stoma (hole), or tracheostomy, can serve independently as an airway or as a site for a tracheal tube or tracheostomy tube to be inserted; this tube allows a person to breathe without the use of the nose or mouth . </P> <P> The etymology of the word tracheotomy comes from two Greek words: the root tom - (from Greek τομή tomḗ) meaning "to cut", and the word trachea (from Greek τραχεία tracheía). The word tracheostomy, including the root stom - (from Greek στόμα stóma) meaning "mouth," refers to the making of a semi-permanent or permanent opening, and to the opening itself . Some sources offer different definitions of the above terms . Part of the ambiguity is due to the uncertainty of the intended permanence of the stoma at the time it is created . </P> <P> In the chronic (long term) setting, indications for tracheotomy include the need for long - term mechanical ventilation and tracheal toilet (e.g. comatose patients, or extensive surgery involving the head and neck). Tracheotomy may result in a significant reduction in the administration of sedatives and vasopressors, as well as the duration of stay in the intensive care unit . In extreme cases, the procedure may be indicated as a treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) seen in patients intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy . The reason tracheostomy works well for OSA is because it is the only surgical procedure that completely bypasses the upper airway . This procedure was commonly performed for obstructive sleep apnea until the 1980s, when other procedures such as the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, genioglossus advancement, and maxillomandibular advancement surgeries were described as alternative surgical modalities for OSA . </P>

Procedure that creates a permanent artificial opening in the trachea