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Tracheostomy - Risks

Risks:

The risks for any anesthesia are:

Problems breathing
Reactions to medications

The risks for any surgery are:

Bleeding
Infection

Additional risks include:

Erosion of the trachea (rare)
Nerve damage
Scar tissue in the trachea

Tracheostomy - series

Reviewed last on: 1/16/2009
Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Goldenberg D, Bhatti N. Management of the impaired airway in the adult. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2005:chap 106.

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Tracheostomy - Risks

Risks:

References