An occluded airway, whether complete or partial, can severely impair ventilation, leading to inadequate oxygenation and potential respiratory failure. Several conditions can contribute Suboptimal Ventilation caused by airway obstruction. Therefore, Tracheostomy is placed to allow improved airflow into the respiratory track (RT).

• Upper Airway Cancers: Tumors in the upper airway can physically block the passage of air, leading to significant obstruction and compromised ventilation.
• Airway Stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of the airway, often caused by scarring, inflammation, or congenital (birth) defects, which restricts airflow and makes breathing difficult. However, it causes the Inability to swallow or cough leading to inadequate expectoration.
• Road Traffic Accidents (RTA): Injuries from accidents (RTA), particularly to the spinal cord or head, can lead to swelling, fractures (neck, throat), or nerve damage that obstructs the airway, necessitating urgent intervention to maintain ventilation.
• Cricoid Muscle Damage Due to Intubation: Prolonged or traumatic intubation can damage the cricoid muscle, leading to swelling or scarring that narrows the airway, causing partial obstruction.
• Inflammation Due to Burns: Inhalation of hot gases or chemicals can cause burns and swelling in the airway, leading to obstruction and impaired ventilation.
• Muscle Abnormalities: Conditions like atrophy (muscle wasting), dystrophy (muscle degeneration), hypertrophy (excessive muscle growth), and hypotrophy (underdevelopment of muscles) can affect the muscles responsible for maintaining airway patency, contributing to partial airway obstruction and suboptimal ventilation.
• Long-term unconsciousness/coma: It causes Loss of Airway Reflexes, patients in a coma lose protective reflexes (e.g., coughing, swallowing) that prevent aspiration of saliva, secretions, or gastric contents, which can lead to airway obstruction.
• Need for long-term mechanical ventilation: It causes Tracheostomy-Related Complications: Prolonged use of endotracheal tubes or tracheostomy can cause airway obstruction due to granulation tissue, mucus plugs, or airway stenosis.