Follow Us
Contact Us
Find Support
Donate
Head and Neck Cancer Types
Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer (Voice Box Cancer)
Mouth Cancer (Oral Cancer, Tongue, Gum, Jaw)
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Nose Cancer (Nasal, Sinus Cancer)
Oropharyngeal Cancer (Tonsil Cancer)
Salivary Gland Cancer
Skin Cancer (Face, Nose and Lip)
Throat Cancers
Thyroid Cancer
Unknown Primary Cancer
Diagnosis
What is head and neck cancer?
Screening
Signs and symptoms
Head and Neck Cancer Tests
Biopsy
Human Papilloma Virus
Imaging Tests
Nasoendoscopy and Laryngoscopy
Pathology tests
Audiometry tests
X-ray Tests
Understanding your diagnosis
Staging and grading
Understanding prognosis
What does 'incurable cancer' mean?
The cancer care team
Questions to ask
Treatment
Emerging Therapies
Immunotherapy
Hypopharyngeal cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer (Voice Box Cancer)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is laryngeal cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Nose Cancer (Nasal, Sinus Cancer)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Mouth Cancer (Oral Cancer, Tongue, Gum, Jaw)
Treatment
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Oropharyngeal Cancer (Tonsil Cancer)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is oropharyngeal cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Salivary gland cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is salivary gland cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Skin Cancer (Face, Nose and Lip)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is skin cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Thyroid cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is thyroid cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Unknown primary cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is unknown primary cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Health and Wellbeing
Changes in appearance
Complementary therapies
Diet and nutrition
Nutrition Videos
Eating Socially
Recipe Books
Soup for the Soul Cooking Workshop
Emotional wellbeing
Exercise
Facial Prosthetics
Financial assistance
Hearing
Laryngectomy
Patient advocates
Physiotherapy and Lymphoedema
Physiotherapy & Lymphoedema Webinar
Practical support
Skin care
Speech, voice and swallowing
Teeth and mouth care
Tracheostomy
Caregivers, family & friends
Being a caregiver
Coping with grief
Looking after yourself
What you can do to help
What's involved?
For Healthcare Professionals
Optimal Care Pathways
MDT Contact Details
Surgical procedures
3D Animations
Research
Order resources
Types of head and neck cancer
Health and Wellbeing
Get Involved
Make a Donation
Fundraise for us
Sponsor a Friend
Raise Awareness
Buy merchandise
Honour someone special
Partner with us
Share your story
Contact your Local MP
About Us
Our Mission
Our people
Our expert contributors
Our Ambassadors
Why is head and neck cancer different?
Our Partners
Menu
Find Support
Donate
Donate
Find Support
Contact Us
Communicating after surgery
.
Source: Hunter New England Health Service NSW
Download resources
for clinicians to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies.
Source: National Tracheostomy Safety Project UK
Previous
Next
Changes in appearance
Complementary therapies
Diet and nutrition
Emotional wellbeing
Exercise
Facial Prosthetics
Find Support
Laryngectomy
Patient advocates
Physiotherapy and Lymphoedema
Practical support
Skin care
Speech, voice and swallowing
Supportive Care
Teeth and mouth care
Tracheostomy
Health and Wellbeing
Tracheostomy
Tracheostomy
An overview
The trachea is a tube that carries air from the larynx (voice box) to the lungs, it is commonly known as the windpipe.
A tracheostomy is an opening made in the trachea for breathing.
A tracheostomy is usually done at the same time as surgery for cancer, and is a temporary measure to help recover from surgery. In some types of cancer, it is done as a permanent procedure.
A tracheostomy tube is a special tube that is inserted into the opening. The tube may be held in place by sutures, cotton tapes or velcro bands. The tube has two parts:
An outer tube (cannula): this makes contact with the tissue and usually stays in place. It may have a balloon (cuff) that can be inflated with a syringe to create a seal
An inner tube (cannula): this can be taken in and out to be cleaned. It may have a special hole (fenestration) to help you talk when the tracheostomy is in.
Instead of having air going through the mouth and nose when breathing, a tracheostomy allows air to go in and out through the tube instead.
PRINT
All the information in this section is available in a PDF.
Download it here
.
Side effects and their management
As with all operations, there is a chance that tracheostomy may lead to a number of side effects. You may not experience all of the side effects. Speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about treatment side effects.
Side effects common for tracheostomy may include:
Prolonged healing of the wound once the tube is removed, with ongoing leakage of air
There may be some irritation, coughing and secretions when the tube is first inserted. These usually settle down as your windpipe gets used to the tube
Scarring of the skin where the tube was inserted.
A change in your voice.
Pain management
:
Pain is a common side effect of the operation. Your anaesthetist will give you pain medicine during the operation to keep you comfortable when you wake up, and you may continue on pain medicines to ensure pain is under control. Ensure you take pain relief medications as prescribed by your doctor and speak to your cancer care team if the pain is not under control, gets worse or if the medication causes any side effects.
Before going home
The tracheostomy tube is usually removed before leaving the hospital. However, if you have to go home with the tracheostomy tube, it is very important that you know how to look after it. You will be given information and careful instructions in hospital, and you will not be discharged until you and your carers are completely comfortable with looking after your tracheostomy tube.
It is very important to keep the breathing tube clean. It can be very dangerous if the airway becomes blocked. Using a small mirror can aid you with caring for the tube.
Ask as many questions as you need to while you are still in hospital. To get more confidence, practice looking after the tube as much as you can. It can feel daunting but is quite simple. Don’t worry and be sure to ask any questions you have.
It helps if someone else that you live with or see regularly, also learns what you have to do too.
Your doctor will advise you about any particular symptoms you should look out for such as pain and redness around the tube site, bleeding from the tube, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or fever, and what you should do.
Any particular instructions for
wound care
or medications will be provided to you before you go home.
You will be assessed by the team involved in your care before you go home and follow-up arranged with your surgeon and GP.
Follow-up will also be arranged with a speech pathologist and dietitian to help you with speaking, swallowing and eating, and with any other allied health professionals to assist you with supportive care.
Follow-Up care
After your operation, you will continue to have regular follow-up visits with your specialist doctor and
cancer care team
.
You will have follow-up with the speech pathologist to help you with speaking. A dietitian may also assist with swallowing or eating difficulties.
Other referrals will be arranged as needed with other health professionals to assist you with any other difficulties or supportive care.
Any additional reconstruction, cosmetic procedures or treatments that you may need are planned after discharge. This enables time for you to recover from the initial operation, get results of the pathology that examined the tissue removed at the operation, and make the arrangements for any additional treatment or next steps.
Questions to ask your doctor
Is my tracheostomy temporary or permanent?
If temporary, how long will my tracheostomy tube be in for?
How would you recommend I communicate whilst my tracheostomy is in place?
How long will the operation take?
How long will I be in hospital?
What are the possible side effects of tracheostomy? How can they be prevented or managed?
Will I need any extra treatment?
What lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) do you recommend that I make?
How much will the operation cost? Will my health insurance cover it?
Will I be able to lead a normal life?
What follow-up tests will I need after the operation?
PRINT
All the information in this section is available in a PDF.
Download it here
.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Head and Neck Cancer Australia Resources
External Links to other Head and Neck Cancer Resources
+
Continue
Cancel
Quick Reference Guide
+
Loading...