Sometimes there are many medical terms that we tend to confuse or, we simply do not know how different they are from each other. This is the case of tracheostomy and tracheostomy. What is the difference between these two terms that are so similar but are different things?
Tracheostomy is one of the oldest surgical procedures related to the cervical district. For its part, the tracheostomy is a variant of the same procedure but has its own differences.
Differences between both procedures
The tracheostomy has its origins in the Egyptians. It is known that this technique was already used in 3,600 BC . to perform small surgical operations. It is understood by a surgical procedure that is characterized by making an incision in the patient’s trachea in order to create an alternative route to the mouth or nose in the neck.
For its part, the concept of a tracheostomy is different. It is also a surgical procedure, which is used to create a stoma in the neck, at the level of the trachea. In this operation, an incision is made in the skin joining the edges to the tracheal tube . When these two openings are connected, a tube is inserted, called a tracheostomy tube, which serves to allow air to flow to the lungs and the patient to breathe again with some normality.
Unlike a tracheostomy, a tracheostomy is usually a long-term remedy for the same type of emergency. In both cases, the goal is to allow the person to breathe normally that, for various reasons, they have temporarily or permanently stopped breathing.
In these two cases, the tracheostomy is usually a temporary solution, while the tracheostomy is usually a permanent solution for the patient.
When is each one practiced?
As we say, the temporary nature of the tracheostomy means that they can be practiced in different situations, always with the aim that the patient breathes normally again. It is usually practiced in routine operations with patients who require intubation for more than a week; in emergencies in case of obstruction of the airways; or at the beginning of head and neck surgery, so intubation will be impossible through the mouth.
For its part, a tracheostomy is performed as a permanent remedy for the patient when it is estimated that there is no possible recovery of respiratory capacity.
The best known cases are in case of stroke, paralysis, sclerosis; in case of blockage or obstruction due to a tumor; or in case of accumulation of fluid in these airways.
