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What’s a Tracheotomy?
During a tracheotomy, a surgeon will create an opening in the trachea, or windpipe. This opening is called the tracheostomy, through which a tube is inserted so that the patient can breathe. Some people are connected to a ventilator if they have trouble breathing on their own. A tracheostomy may be temporary for some patients, while for others it is a permanent condition. A tracheostomy has a profound effect on a person’s ability to communicate.