tracheotomy

American  

[trey-kee-ot-uh-mee] / ˌtreɪ kiˈɒt ə mi /

noun

Surgery.

plural

tracheotomies

1. the operation of cutting into the trachea.

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tracheotomy British  

/ ˌtrækɪˈɒtəmɪ /

noun

1. surgical incision into the trachea, usually performed when the upper air passage has been blocked

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Other Word Forms

• tracheotomist noun

Etymology

Origin of tracheotomy

First recorded in 1720–30; tracheo- + -tomy

Explanation

When someone can't breathe because their airway is blocked, a surgical procedure called a tracheotomy might be necessary, when a doctor makes an incision through their neck and into their windpipe. The medical term tracheotomy comes from trachea, the anatomical name for "windpipe," and the suffix -tomy, from the Greek tomia, "a cutting." In simple terms, a tracheotomy is the cutting of someone's trachea. Emergency tracheotomies are commonly performed when a person has choked on an object that becomes wedged in their airway. A successful tracheotomy allows the person to breathe again, until the object can be removed.

Example Sentences

He felt this technique would be far less disruptive to the person's life than either constantly being tired during the day or, as a last resort, punching a hole in their throat with a tracheotomy.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2023

Compared with the 2011 images, these were toned down—no more tracheotomy holes—and the FDA dropped the 1-800-QUIT-NOW number that the courts had specifically criticized.

From Slate • Jun. 12, 2023

Christopher has a tracheotomy and Emily needs constant supervision because of severe choking issues.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2023

She said her brother had a tracheotomy and needed a feeding tube before his death, having lost the use of his voice.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2023

The kit had had a Swiss Army knife, but Jack broke it performing an emergency tracheotomy on the dinosaur rock at the park.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu