A surgical procedure that creates an opening in the front of the neck directly into the trachea (windpipe), where a breathing tube is inserted. This provides an alternative airway when the upper respiratory tract is blocked or compromised.
From Greek 'tracheia' (rough artery, referring to the trachea's cartilage rings) and 'stoma' (mouth or opening). The procedure dates back to ancient times, with references found in Egyptian and Hindu medical texts over 3,000 years ago.
Tracheostomy is one of the oldest surgical procedures known to humanity - ancient physicians performed it to save people choking to death, and it's still a life-saving procedure today! The trachea's unique structure with its C-shaped cartilage rings makes it the perfect place to create a secure artificial airway that won't collapse.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.