The local tech basically destroyed his trach during the procedure relegating him to a feeding tube for the rest of his life. He was 68 years young and died with his boots on.
A trach situation is not at all the same as an intubation. I have worked with hundreds of trach patients. Intubations are generally considered to be more temporary measures. Trachs are for Patients who have genuinely more long term issues. An extubation is an extraction of an Endo Tracheal Tube. A decannulation is an extraction of a Trach Tube.
Trach tubes are frequently in place for weeks, sometimes months, often years, and even permanently. Often the ‘channel’ of a trachea can deviate. Not so often so that it is considered as common, but certainly it happens. I have seen it plenty of times.
Trach tubes are changed usually once a month, or even more frequently. Special sized tubes are quite common. They must be special ordered. Such tubes must be changed, but it can require special handling. The trachea is comprised of ‘smooth muscle’ sort of what the inside of your cheeks consist of. They are certainly vulnerable to trauma with regular secretion removal or too frequent changing. It is a delicate area, a lot can go wrong. We are talking about seriously invasive conditions. With a trach, the upper airway is typically bypassed.
That means that filtering, heating, and humidification must ordinarily be provided artificially. There are situations when that is not the case. Trachea deviations can be scary because the tubes can become immobilized, stuck. This can result in interventions which only a Physician can provide. Mostly we get it done ourselves, but the Docs can be very territorial when it comes to us becoming too innovative. We defer to the Docs even though we can do it. It is complicated to explain. Likely has to do with Fees, but I would never say that for the record.
So, if this person was a long term trach Patient, then it is likely that complications would arise. It is important however to recognize that though both a trach Patient and an intubated Patient may require ventilation, the situations are very different.