When You Were in the Hospital A tracheostomy is surgery to make
a hole in your neck that goes into your windpipe. If you need it
for just a short time, it will be closed later. Some people need
the hole for the rest of their life. The hole is needed when
your airway is blocked or for some conditions that make it hard
for you to breathe. You made need a tracheostomy if you are on a
breathing machine (ventilator) for a long time. After the hole
is made, a plastic tube is placed in the hole to keep it open. A
ribbon is tied around the neck to keep the tube in place. The
surgery is done in the hospital. Before you leave the hospital
you should be able to: - Clean, replace, and suction the tube -
Keep the air you breathe moist - Clean the hole with water and
mild soap or hydrogen peroxide - Change the dressing around the
hole Do not do strenuous activity or hard exercise for 6 weeks
after surgery. After your surgery you may not be able to speak.
Ask your doctor for a referral to a speech therapist to help you
lear