Tracheostomy in Grand Rapids, MI

A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon creates an opening in the trachea (windpipe) and inserts a tube to help you breathe. In Grand Rapids, tracheostomies are commonly performed at major hospitals such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health facilities.

A tracheostomy may be:

  • Temporary – used for a short period while you recover from an illness, injury, or surgery.
  • Permanent – used long term when there is permanent damage or loss of function around the larynx (voice box) or swallowing structures.

Because Michigan winters are cold and dry, people in Grand Rapids with tracheostomies may need extra humidification and protection from cold air to keep their airways comfortable and reduce irritation.

Why a Tracheostomy May Be Needed

Your ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeon or critical care team in Grand Rapids may recommend a tracheostomy for several medical reasons, including:

  • Blocked or narrowed upper airway, such as from:
    • Swelling after trauma or surgery
    • Severe allergic reactions
    • Tumors in the throat or larynx
    • Severe bleeding in the throat
  • Long-term use of a ventilator, to make breathing support safer and more comfortable
  • Neurological or muscular conditions that affect breathing or swallowing
  • Permanent damage to the larynx or throat, requiring a long-term or permanent airway

Generally, surgeons at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health will not perform a tracheostomy unless other options are not safe or effective.

Emergency Tracheostomy in Grand Rapids

What Is an Emergency Tracheostomy?

An emergency tracheostomy (or similar emergency airway procedure) is performed when the upper airway suddenly becomes blocked and you cannot breathe. In these cases, there is no time for lengthy discussion or planning.

This procedure may be done in:

  • The emergency department (ER) at a Grand Rapids hospital
  • An intensive care unit (ICU)
  • Rarely, in the field by emergency physicians or specially trained providers

How It Is Done

In an emergency:

  1. You are positioned on your back, often with a rolled towel under your shoulders to extend your neck.
  2. Local anesthetic is injected into the area if there is time and you are awake.
  3. A cut is made in the thin part of the airway just below the larynx:
    • The surgeon may open the trachea (tracheostomy), or
    • The cricothyroid membrane (cricothyroidotomy), the thinnest part of the airway below the voice box.
  4. A tube is inserted into the opening.
  5. The tube is connected to an oxygen supply or a ventilator (breathing machine).

The entire emergency airway procedure is done as quickly as possible to save your life.

Planned (Non-Emergency) Tracheostomy

When a Planned Tracheostomy Is Considered

A non-emergency (planned) tracheostomy may be recommended if you:

  • Need prolonged ventilator support in the ICU
  • Are having major surgery on your mouth, throat, or larynx and need a safe airway afterward
  • Have a chronic condition that makes breathing through the nose or mouth unsafe or difficult
  • Have a high risk of airway blockage due to tumors, scarring, or swelling

In Grand Rapids, these planned procedures are usually done by ENT surgeons or general surgeons in hospital operating rooms.

Medical Issues Your Team Will Consider

Before a planned tracheostomy, your Grand Rapids healthcare team will review:

  • Your medical history (heart disease, lung disease, bleeding problems, prior neck surgery)
  • Reason for the tracheostomy (temporary vs permanent)
  • Expected long-term outlook
  • Type of anesthesia (usually general anesthesia)
  • Risks and benefits specific to your health and age

You will have the opportunity to ask questions and review consent forms with your surgeon.

How a Non-Emergency Tracheostomy Is Performed

In a typical planned tracheostomy:

  1. Anesthesia

    • The procedure is usually done under general anesthesia in an operating room.

  2. Positioning and preparation

    • You are placed on your back.
    • Your neck and upper chest are cleaned with antiseptic.

  3. Incision

    • A horizontal cut is made in the lower part of your neck, between the larynx (voice box) and the sternum (breastbone).

  4. Exposure of the trachea

    • The neck muscles are gently parted.
    • Part of the thyroid gland may be moved aside or divided to reach the trachea.

  5. Opening the trachea

    • A small opening is made in the wall of the trachea.

  6. Placing the tracheostomy tube

    • The tracheostomy tube is inserted through the opening.
    • Stitches and ties are used to hold the tube securely in place.

Immediately After the Operation

After a tracheostomy in a Grand Rapids hospital, you can expect:

  • Chest X-ray

    • Often done to confirm the tube is in the correct position and to check for complications like lung collapse.

  • Monitoring

    • Your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate are closely watched in a recovery area, ICU, or step-down unit.

  • Medications

    • Antibiotics may be prescribed to lower the risk of infection.
    • Pain medication is given to keep you comfortable.

  • Teaching and training

    • Once you are stable, you and your caregivers will be taught how to:
      • Clean around the tracheostomy site
      • Change or clean the inner cannula (inner tube)
      • Recognize signs of blockage or infection
      • Use humidification and protective coverings

Unless complications occur, many patients stay in the hospital about 3–5 days after a straightforward tracheostomy. Those in the ICU or with serious illness may stay longer.

Speaking, Eating, and Drinking with a Tracheostomy

A tracheostomy changes how air flows through your throat, which can affect:

  • Speech – it may be hard to make sounds at first.
  • Eating and drinking – swallowing can feel different, and some people need swallowing evaluations.

Over the first few days:

  • You may not be able to speak, or your voice may be very weak.
  • If your tube allows some air to escape past your vocal cords, you may be able to speak by lightly covering the tube opening with a finger or using a speaking valve (as recommended by your care team).

You may be referred to a speech-language pathologist in Grand Rapids for:

  • Voice training
  • Swallowing assessment and therapy
  • Training with speaking valves or communication devices

Tracheostomy Care at Home in Grand Rapids

Once you leave the hospital, daily care is essential to keep your tracheostomy safe and comfortable.

Cleaning the Tube

Many tracheostomy tubes have an inner cannula that must be cleaned:

  • Frequency: from once a day to several times a day, depending on how much mucus you produce.
  • Your hospital team will show you:
    • How to remove and clean the inner cannula
    • How to reinsert it safely
    • When to replace disposable inner cannulas, if used

Humidification and Michigan’s Climate

Because air no longer passes through your nose (which normally warms and moistens it), the trachea is exposed to drier air. This can be especially noticeable during cold, dry West Michigan winters.

Your care team may recommend:

  • A humidifier attachment or heat-moisture exchanger (HME) for about one month or longer after surgery.
  • Using a room humidifier, especially in winter when indoor heating dries the air.
  • Avoiding very cold outside air directly entering the tracheostomy; a protective covering can help.

Keeping the Area Clean and Dry

To protect your tracheostomy in Grand Rapids’ varying weather:

  • Keep the skin around the opening clean and dry.
  • Use gauze or a soft trach dressing as instructed.
  • When going outside:
    • Wear a scarf or specialized tracheostomy cover over the opening to protect from:
      • Cold air
      • Dust and pollen (especially in spring and summer)
      • Insects and debris

What to Avoid

To reduce complications:

  • Avoid water entering the tracheostomy:
    • Be very careful during showers; never allow water to spray directly toward the opening.
    • Do not swim or submerge your head underwater unless specifically cleared and trained by your specialist.
  • Avoid food particles and powders:
    • Do not use loose powders (baby powder, makeup powder, aerosol sprays) near the opening.
  • Avoid vigorous activity for at least 6 weeks after surgery:
    • No heavy lifting or intense exercise until your surgeon says it is safe.

Your ENT or surgeon will provide specific activity guidelines based on your health.

Risks and Possible Complications

Certain groups are more vulnerable to complications, including:

  • Babies and young children
  • Older adults
  • People who smoke
  • People with chronic lung or heart disease

Possible risks and complications of tracheostomy include:

  • Severe bleeding
  • Infection at the tracheostomy site
  • Damage to nearby structures, such as:
    • Larynx (voice box)
    • Esophagus (rare)
  • Air trapped in surrounding tissues (subcutaneous emphysema)
  • Lung collapse (pneumothorax)
  • Blockage of the tracheostomy tube by:
    • Mucus
    • Blood clots
    • Pressure from airway walls
  • Accidental removal or displacement of the tube
  • Failure of the opening to close after tube removal (more likely with long-term tracheostomies)
  • Scar formation around the opening

If the tube comes out or seems blocked, follow the emergency plan given by your surgeon and seek immediate medical help.

Long-Term Outlook: Temporary vs. Permanent Tracheostomy

Temporary Tracheostomy

If your tracheostomy is temporary:

  • It will be removed once your breathing is stable and you no longer need the tube.
  • The opening usually closes on its own over time.
  • You may have a small scar on your neck.

Your Grand Rapids care team will monitor your breathing and healing as they plan for tube removal.

Permanent Tracheostomy

If your tracheostomy is permanent:

  • The opening will stay in place.
  • Over time, the opening can narrow, and sometimes further surgery is needed to widen it.
  • The outer tracheostomy tube typically needs to be changed every few months.
  • The site should be inspected at each tube change for:
    • Infection
    • Skin breakdown
    • Excessive scarring or narrowing

Ongoing follow-up with your ENT or surgeon in Grand Rapids is important for long-term safety and comfort.

Living with a Tracheostomy in Grand Rapids

Many people in the Grand Rapids area live active lives with tracheostomies. Helpful tips include:

  • Regular follow-up visits with your ENT, pulmonologist, or surgeon.
  • Vaccinations (like flu and pneumonia shots), especially important in Michigan where respiratory infections are common in fall and winter.
  • Avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke, which can irritate the airway.
  • Planning for cold-weather protection:
    • Use scarves and covers to warm and filter the air you breathe outdoors.
  • Connecting with local support services, such as:
    • Kent County Health Department resources
    • Grand Rapids Public Health education programs
    • Hospital-based respiratory therapy and support groups

When to Seek Help in Grand Rapids

Call your doctor or seek urgent care if you notice:

  • Increased redness, swelling, or pain around the tracheostomy
  • Fever or signs of infection
  • Thick, foul-smelling, or bloody mucus
  • Difficulty breathing or unusual noise from the tube
  • The tube seems loose, out of place, or blocked

In a medical emergency (severe breathing difficulty, tube dislodgement with distress, heavy bleeding), call 911 immediately and go to the nearest emergency department, such as:

  • Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health
  • Mercy Health emergency departments

Key Points

  • A tracheostomy is a surgical opening in the windpipe that allows a tube to help you breathe; it may be temporary or permanent.
  • In Grand Rapids, MI, tracheostomies are performed at major hospitals by ENT and general surgeons, often in emergency or ICU settings.
  • Antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the risk of infection after surgery.
  • Certain groups, including babies, smokers, and older adults, have a higher risk of complications.
  • It is essential to:
    • Keep the tracheostomy area clean and dry.
    • Use humidification, especially in Michigan’s cold, dry winters.
    • Protect the opening with a scarf or cover when going outside.
  • Your long-term outlook depends on whether the tracheostomy is temporary or permanent, and on your underlying health condition.
  • Always follow the care instructions from your Grand Rapids healthcare team, and seek emergency help if you have trouble breathing or suspect a serious complication.