What’s wrong with choking on food after a tracheotomy?

Eating choking after tracheotomy is not clearly and directly related to the tracheotomy procedure, and a complete cranial, pharyngeal and neck-related examination is needed to understand the etiology. Tracheotomy is an emergency procedure in which the anterior wall of the cervical trachea is incised, a tracheal tube is inserted, and breathing is done through the tracheal tube. Common postoperative complications include subcutaneous emphysema, mediastinal emphysema, pneumothorax, bleeding, and difficulty in extubation. This procedure does not involve the pharynx, so the surgical trauma and postoperative changes in structural function under normal operation do not involve pharyngeal sensation or swallowing maneuvers. When eating choking occurs after tracheotomy, it is recommended to improve the cranial, pharyngeal and neck examination, and to ask for consultation with neurology, neurosurgery and general surgery to clarify the diagnosis.