Long-term tracheotomy is not advisable during coma recovery

  Tracheotomy is often required in comatose patients due to early medical needs, to improve respiratory distress, treat pulmonary infections, etc. However, after a longer period of treatment, the condition has been stabilized without severe pulmonary infection and respiratory distress, and it is not necessary to keep tracheotomy for a long time only because consciousness has not been restored. There are many implications for late recovery: increased incidence of pulmonary infections: tracheotomy is a necessary treatment for severe pneumonia. However, in patients in chronic coma, lung infections are mostly not severe and do not require frequent suctioning from the trachea. It can mostly be resolved by nursing operations such as turning and back patting. Long-term tracheotomy bypasses the natural filtration, humidification and warming functions of the nasopharynx and opens the airway directly, leading to direct entry of unclean and dry cold air into the lungs, increasing or aggravating the chance of lung infection.  Increases the difficulty of care: After tracheotomy, the trocar needs to be changed and cleaned regularly at the incision site to prevent local infection or danger caused by sputum crusts blocking the trocar. This increases the difficulty and intensity of patient care, and is an extremely tedious task for chaperones in chronic coma. Excessive workload can lead to loss of patience of the chaperone and distract from functional training. Affects overall patient care and exercise.  Impact on swallowing and vocal training: Tracheotomy is detrimental to the above training. Many patients who experience vocalization, or even speech, immediately after tracheotomy removal and closure may have long had the ability to vocalize, but were unable to complete or reflect their recovery due to tracheotomy.  Early closure reduces the difficulty of home care and avoids pneumonia due to airway opening. It facilitates early swallowing and vocal training.  Blocking method: Generally, the tracheal caliber is gradually reduced with adhesive tape, and can be removed after 48-72 hours of complete closure without adverse reactions. The length of this process varies from person to person and requires slow adaptation until complete closure. Usually 2-3 weeks are sufficient, and the fistula does not need to be sutured after removal, but heals on its own within 1 week.