The word tracheostomy often evokes feelings of fear and anxiety in patients. The thought of a hole in the front of the neck is overwhelming, especially in connection with a cancer diagnosis. It is hard to imagine returning to a normal life after this procedure, and contemplating the care required can be daunting. These concerns are natural. However, while having a tracheostomy can be life altering, it is not debilitating. The tracheotomy procedure is performed fairly commonly in head and neck cancer patients. In this procedure, a hole is surgically created in the front of the neck and into the trachea (windpipe) to establish an airway in the neck. This hole, or stoma, is referred to as a tracheostomy. Once the stoma is created, it is maintained by inserting a tracheostomy tube. Becoming informed about the initial procedure and management of your tracheostomy will help alleviate your anxieties and fears. That is the objective of this handbook. It will assist in the transition from the hospital to home and provide you with information you will need to manage your tracheostomy appropriately.
About the Author: Richard O. Wein, MD, FACS: Dr. Wein performed his residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He subsequently completed fellowship in Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Tufts Medical Center and a Faculty Advisor at the Tufts University School of Medicine. His practice and research interest are focused on the multidisciplinary management of head & neck cancer and the surgical treatment of thyroid, salivary and advanced skin neoplasms. Kara Mosesso, ANP-BC: Kara Mosesso received her BA in Social Science at Providence College. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing at Boston College and subsequently worked for four years as the outpatient Head & Neck cancer Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Tufts Medical Center. She is the Survivorship Nurse Practitioner for allogeneic stem cell transplant patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is a clinical instructor for the Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Elizabeth Von Euw, MS, CCC-SLP: Elizabeth Von Euw received both her BS and MS in Speech Language Pathology at Northeastern University. She is licensed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Upon graduation, Elizabeth worked in a private practice working between two acute care hospitals in addition to a long term care health facility before transitioning to Tufts Medical Center. Elizabeth has worked closely with multiple disciplines in the acute care setting with a focus on swallowing evaluation and intervention. Being part of an academic medical center, she has given multiple lectures to the medical staff, local colleges and supervises local graduate students in the field of Speech Language Pathology. Miriam O'Leary, MD: Dr. O'Leary received her BA at Rosemont College and her medical degree at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She completed a residency in otolaryngology-head & neck surgery at Boston University, and a fellowship in head & neck surgery and microvascular reconstruction at the University of Miami. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Tufts Medical Center, practicing extirpative and reconstructive head and neck surgery.