Background
Tracheotomy is a surgical procedure that consists of opening of the
airway anterior tracheal wall and creating a stoma where a cannula is
placed into the trachea to facilitate ventilation. The term tracheotomy
refers only to the trachea surgical incision and tracheostomy refers to
the creation of a stoma and the stoma itself. The first cases of
tracheostomy in children have been documented as being performed at the
beginning of the 17th century.(1)
Tracheostomy procedures increased in the mid-19th century with the
diphtheria epidemic that affected Europe. In 1833, Trousseau reported
that 50 children were saved because of this
procedure.(2)