Henkitorventäjään

Henkitorventäjään is a Finnish term that translates to "tracheotomy" or "tracheostomy" in English. It refers to a surgical procedure that involves creating an opening in the neck and inserting a tube into the trachea (windpipe). This opening is called a stoma. The primary purpose of a henkitorventäjään is to bypass an upper airway obstruction or to facilitate long-term ventilation.

This procedure is typically performed when a patient is unable to breathe adequately through their nose or mouth due to various medical conditions. These can include severe facial or neck trauma, swelling in the airway, certain neurological conditions that affect breathing muscles, or prolonged need for mechanical ventilation. The tube inserted through the stoma allows air to enter the lungs directly, bypassing any blockage in the upper respiratory tract.

A henkitorventäjään can be a temporary measure, allowing the airway to heal or the underlying condition to be resolved. In other cases, it may be a permanent solution for individuals with chronic breathing difficulties. Patients who have undergone this procedure often require specialized care, including regular cleaning of the stoma and the tube, suctioning of secretions from the airway, and monitoring for potential complications such as infection or bleeding. Communication can be challenging for individuals with a tracheostomy, and various methods are used to aid speech, depending on the patient's condition and the type of tube used. The term itself, "henkitorventäjään," specifically refers to the act of performing or having undergone this surgical intervention.