Trachy Talk

NTSP Literature Review Podcast: Sept 2026 (S7, Ep9)

Four new research papers, four important lessons for tracheostomy and laryngectomy care.

First, are the traditional contraindications to percutaneous tracheostomy still justified?A systematic review of more than 2,000 patients suggests that even patients with significant risk factors may be suitable for percutaneous procedures — provided the right expertise and equipment are available.

Second, airway emergencies. A new review highlights the potentially fatal consequences of confusing a tracheostomy with a laryngectomy — and reinforces the importance of the National Tracheostomy Safety Project’s emergency algorithms.

Third, what does it actually feel like to survive intensive care with a tracheostomy?
A qualitative study highlights the profound impact of losing your voice, and the importance of communication, compassionate care and family support.

And finally, a randomised trial shows how modern heat and moisture exchangers can improve coughing, secretion management and sleep following laryngectomy.

Four very different studies, but one common message:
Good tracheostomy care is about much more than managing an airway.
Listen to the full discussion in this month’s Trachy Talk podcast.


Link to supporting PDF: https://tracheostomy.org.uk/Podcast-Resources

You can sign up to our community to keep informed of our work here: https://ntsp-ltd.myklpages.com/l/XTFSzY 


The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

August’s Trachy Talk covers five new papers across adult ICU, laryngectomy and paediatric tracheostomy care.

A Birmingham study asks whether earlier cuff deflation could accelerate communication, rehabilitation and decannulation — although retrospective design means association should not be mistaken for causation. 

An international IFOS consensus explores pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy and finds agreement around nutrition, surveillance and selected vascularised-tissue reinforcement, but major uncertainty remains around oral feeding, salivary bypass tubes and negative-pressure therapy. 

We also review an updated paediatric tracheostomy consensus, a large US study highlighting major variation in antibiotic use despite frequent airway colonisation, and Japanese long-term outcome data showing that only 40.6% of children had been decannulated by five years.  

The common message: good tracheostomy care depends on rehabilitation, interpretation, education and long-term MDT support — not just airway management.



Link to supporting PDF: https://tracheostomy.org.uk/Podcast-Resources

You can sign up to our community to keep informed of our work here: https://ntsp-ltd.myklpages.com/l/XTFSzY 


The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

Nic was a patient on our ICU, recovering from a serious illness. He needed a tracheostomy to help with his recovery. He was awake, talking, eating and drinking while we gradually reduced the support he needed from the ventilator, in a process commonly known as “weaning”. Nic kindly agreed to talk to Brendan, one of the ICU consultants, about his experiences.

This makes fascinating listening for anyone involved in tracheostomy care, especially those working in intensive care. Nick and Brendan discuss what it’s like to be on the patient side of our treatments and interventions, covering tracheostomy care in general, eating, drinking, talking and the “sprinting” Nic was going through as we tried to reduce his ventilator support and help him towards recovery.

Nic finishes with some important messages for healthcare staff, fellow patients and family members who find themselves involved in tracheostomy care.

A subtitled YouTube version of this interview is also available if you have any difficulty hearing Nick clearly.

Thanks so much to Nic for his generosity, openness and willingness to share his story.

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The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

Support the show

NTSP Literature Review Podcast: July 2026 (S7, Ep7)

This months papers cover:

• Safety of PDT with uninterrupted anticoagulation
• Patient perspectives on self-management of voice prosthesis after laryngectomy
• Palliative care in head and neck cancer
• One-way "speaking" valves and early mobilisation in ICU
• CT assessment of trachea changes after tracheostomy

Link to supporting PDF: https://tracheostomy.org.uk/Podcast-Resources

You can sign up to our community to keep informed of our work here: https://ntsp-ltd.myklpages.com/l/XTFSzY 

The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

Support the show

NTSP Literature Review Podcast: June 2026 (S7, Ep6)

This months papers cover:

• Co-designing laryngectomy accessible information to support the development of an education and training package for community healthcare professionals
• Tracheitis after pediatric tracheostomy 
• Staff experiences of percutaneous tracheostomy in intensive care 
• Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy and thyroid isthmus penetration (PETRIS)

Link to supporting PDF: https://tracheostomy.org.uk/Podcast-Resources

You can sign up to our community to keep informed of our work here: https://ntsp-ltd.myklpages.com/l/XTFSzY 

The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

Support the show

The NTSP's Prof Sarah Wallace was recently speaking in Cancun, Mexico at the Sociedad Latinoamericano de Disfagia (SLAD, the Latin American Dysphagia Conference). 

Sarah bumped into SLP legend Dr Martin Brodsky, PhD, ScM, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA. Martin is Section Head of Speech-Language Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, and an internationally recognised clinician and researcher in swallowing, voice and airway disorders. His work has a particular focus on the consequences of critical illness, including swallowing problems and laryngeal injury following intubation and mechanical ventilation. Before joining Cleveland Clinic in 2022, Martin spent around 15 years at Johns Hopkins University, where he retains adjunct academic appointments in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. A Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, his research brings speech and language pathology firmly into the multidisciplinary critical care environment, exploring how we can better identify, understand and treat airway, voice and swallowing problems in patients recovering from critical illness. 

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The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

The NTSP's Prof Sarah Wallace was recently speaking in Cancun, Mexico at the Sociedad Latinoamericano de Disfagia (SLAD, the Latin American Dysphagia Conference). 

Sarah bumped into SLP legend Dr Martin Brodsky, PhD, ScM, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA. Martin is Section Head of Speech-Language Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, and an internationally recognised clinician and researcher in swallowing, voice and airway disorders. His work has a particular focus on the consequences of critical illness, including swallowing problems and laryngeal injury following intubation and mechanical ventilation. Before joining Cleveland Clinic in 2022, Martin spent around 15 years at Johns Hopkins University, where he retains adjunct academic appointments in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. A Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, his research brings speech and language pathology firmly into the multidisciplinary critical care environment, exploring how we can better identify, understand and treat airway, voice and swallowing problems in patients recovering from critical illness. 

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The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

The NTSP's Prof Sarah Wallace was recently speaking in Cancun, Mexico at the Sociedad Latinoamericano de Disfagia (SLAD, the Latin American Dysphagia Conference). 

Sarah bumped into SLP legend Dr Martin Brodsky, PhD, ScM, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA. Martin is Section Head of Speech-Language Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, and an internationally recognised clinician and researcher in swallowing, voice and airway disorders. His work has a particular focus on the consequences of critical illness, including swallowing problems and laryngeal injury following intubation and mechanical ventilation. Before joining Cleveland Clinic in 2022, Martin spent around 15 years at Johns Hopkins University, where he retains adjunct academic appointments in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. A Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, his research brings speech and language pathology firmly into the multidisciplinary critical care environment, exploring how we can better identify, understand and treat airway, voice and swallowing problems in patients recovering from critical illness. 

----------------------------------------

The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

The NTSP's Prof Sarah Wallace was recently speaking in Cancun, Mexico at the Sociedad Latinoamericano de Disfagia (SLAD, the Latin American Dysphagia Conference). 

Sarah spent time talking to Marianne Robert and Ivonne Vargos Zurigo, who are SLPs working in Costa Rica. Both Marianne and Ivonne have hospital-based practices, which they tell us all about. They both have a role in the community with neurorehabilitation work too, which is fasicinating to hear all about. 

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The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show

The NTSP's Prof Sarah Wallace was recently speaking in Cancun, Mexico at the Sociedad Latinoamericano de Disfagia (SLAD, the Latin American Dysphagia Conference). 

Sarah bumped into Pia Astoroga and Benito Parra who work as SLPs in Mexico, one of 17 countries represented at the Conference. Pia and Benito took the time to tell us all about their work in Mexico, including their patient mix, the infrastructure they work in, common problems they encounter, and how they manage their caseloads. 

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The UK National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is committed to providing education, information and resources to improve patient safety and the patient experience for those with tracheostomies and laryngectomies. All of our resources are housed on our website www.tracheostomy.org.uk, accessed by over 30,000 visitors each month from around the world.

This is the only podcast to bring you literature reviews, hot topic discussions and interviews with healthcare staff, patients and families.

Our goal is to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies through education. We work closely with patients, families and healthcare professionals to develop new resources to improve care. We’ve collaborated with key stakeholders in tracheostomy care since 2009, and developed freely accessible resources, supported by online learning developed with the UK Department of Health. We’ve worked with the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2012 to improve care for patients and their families everywhere.

We are funded by grants, donations and in partnership with medical device companies through unrestricted awards. This podcast series is supported by unrestricted education funding from the Atos Learning Institute. The funding supports the professional production of the podcasts and videos, and the medical device companies that support us do not have any creative influence over the content that we record. All of our work is undertaken by volunteer healthcare staff, patients and their families. 

Most of our content is supported by videos. You can access our training videos and resources for Basic Care, Emergency Care and Vocalisation & Swallowing. Download and print bedhead signs and emergency algorithms from our resources. 

You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel. You can also donate directly to the NTSP through the NTSP website, or by clicking the Buzzsprout podcast hosting "support" links. You can support our work by watching or clicking any of the advertising links that appear via the NTSP YouTube Channel.

Support the show