What is a major complication of long-term artificial tracheostomies?

A major complication of long-term artificial tracheostomies is tracheal erosion. This condition arises due to the prolonged presence of a tracheostomy tube within the trachea, leading to constant friction and pressure on the tracheal walls. Over time, this can cause damage to the tracheal tissue, resulting in erosion or necrosis, which may require surgical intervention to repair.

In addition to tracheal erosion, patients with long-term tracheostomies must be monitored for potential complications such as aspiration pneumonia and tube dislodgment, but these issues are typically manageable and do not carry the same risk of long-term tissue damage as tracheal erosion. Increased mucus production can occur, but it is often a manageable symptom associated with tracheostomy. Thus, tracheal erosion stands out as a significant, potentially serious complication directly linked to the presence of a long-term artificial tracheostomy.