There are several different types of tracheostomy tubes available for people to use. Each one has its own benefits and disadvantages, depending on its features. A trachea tube is usually a small piece of plastic that helps someone who has breathing problems to exchange air. A surgeon will create a tracheostomy stoma in a surgical procedure and the tube will fit in place to keep the stoma open. There are many reasons that a person might need to have a trachea tube. Sometimes they have a hard time breathing due to abnormalities in the upper airway. This tube then allows the air to bypass the upper airway and go straight into the lungs and traches. Then a trach is able to help ventilate the person’s lungs and allow them to not have an endotracheal tube, one the goes through their mouth, for a long period of time.

One of the types of tubes uses a double cannula system. The inner cannula is a liner of the outer tube. The surgeon will place the outer tube initially and inflate the cuff to keep the tube in place. The inner portion of the tube can be withdrawn it it needs to be cleaned. This system also uses an obdurator. An obdurator can be thought of as a guide. It directs the tube during an insertion and then is removed after everything is put into place. There are two flanges on either side that form the tracheostomy tube holder to keep it in place. Normally, a lace-like string is placed through the flanges and ties around the neck of the patient to keep the tracheostomy tube holder in place. The patient should be comfortable with these laces and it should be used to make sure things do not move too much.

There are also several types of single cannula tubes that can be used. There are normally made out of silicone or another inert material so that the patient does not react to the compounds. These types also use an obdurator to guide the tube, but they do not have an inner cannula, hence, they are considered to be single cannula. They will include an inflatable cuff to keep the tip of the tube in place as well as the two flanges on the outside so that the laces will maintain the proper position of the trach tube against the skin. These single cannula tubes tend to used in smaller patients. They can also come in the non cuffed variety, which are used for the youngest of patients. The proper sizing of the tube will be performed by the medical professionals in order to maintain the proper fit.

Some brands, like the shiley tracheostomy tube, are slightly longer, so they have a different fit. The Shiley tracheostomy tube also has a slightly different cuff that is reported to cause less trauma. Be sure to ask a lot of questions of the medical professionals about the tracheostomy tubes so that you are fully aware of how to take care of them.