Breathing Tube

[Glenda]

I just heard from a friend of mine that works in a hospital that if you tell the doctor that you are a singer (which I am) that the anesthesiologist will put in a smaller breathing tube. Has anyone heard about this? Is this because during singing lessons all those years that I was taught how to breathe the correct way? I was just wondering.

Love and God Bless, Glenda

 

[Ross]

I don't know about that, but my mom had them use a pediatrics tube because of the radiation damage she suffered from Cancer therapy.

You can ask, I don't know what the response will be though. They want to make sure your getting all the oxygen you need.

 

[medtronic of borg]

fyi

fyi

Your friend is correct!
Med

 

[Harpoon]

Yup. A smaller tube puts less pressure on the vocal chords which can be damaged by the feeding tube (I speak - better than I used to - from experience.)

If your voice is important (that is if you use it in some professional capacity, as a singer or radio announcer or maybe politician) you can mention it to the doctors and they will use a smaller tube for intubation.


It seems like there might be some kind of downside to a smaller tube in an adult, but I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what that might be....

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I was on the ventilator for 8 days - I didn't know about this smaller tube thing beforehand. I wish I had. My swallowing coordination never has been the same; I inhale water much more often than I used to, and I become hoarse very easily now. My wife and I often comment that they messed up my throat.