Abstract
This chapter reviews important questions to ask and physical findings to note when first assessing the patient with a tracheostomy tube. It also reviews the anatomy of tracheostomy tubes, discusses the different materials they are made of, describes some of the features these tubes can have, and explores how they can be custom-designed to accommodate patient anatomy. Most modern tracheostomies are made of a plastic polymer such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polyurethane, or of silicone. The curvature of the neonatal and pediatric tubes is less acute than adult tube curvature and is standard amongst all manufacturers. Shiley tracheostomy tubes were one of the earliest neonatal and pediatric tubes on the market. Tracoe neonatal and pediatric tracheostomy tubes are also made of PVC, which is less costly than silicone. The primary purpose of a tracheostomy cuff is to improve ventilation support by minimizing the leak around the trach tube.
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