In my role as an ENT surgeon with a specialist interest in laryngology and airway surgery I regularly see patients referred with tracheostomy problems or failure to decannulate. The neuro and spinal patients are some of the more challenging cases and the impact of long-term tracheostomy is life changing for the patient.

I work closely with a multi-disciplinary team in both a neurosurgical and spinal injuries unit to diagnose laryngo-tracheal pathologies early to achieve decannulation. I will present some of the recent cases and demonstrate the importance of early intervention in these patients.