Tracheostomy Management in the Perioperative Setting

Patients arrived to our preoperative holding area with a variety of tracheostomies. A portion of these patients were status post laryngectomy increasing their risk for airway issues. There was no structured communication about the tracheostomy or patency of the upper airway. Patients could go to any floor postoperatively with these higher risk airways. It was determined that the airway needed to be clarified in the perioperative setting so the patient would receive the appropriate level of care postoperatively.