What is a tracheostomy? The procedure Miguel Uribe Turbay underwent.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 24, around 7:25 am, the Santa Fe Foundation published a new medical report on the health status of the pre-candidate. President Miguel Uribe Turbay , after undergoing further surgery on the holiday Monday, June 23.

The hospital stated that they continue to provide the required comprehensive multidisciplinary care, with ongoing monitoring of his neurological and hemodynamic vital signs.

The hospital reiterated that Miguel Uribe Turbay remains under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit in serious condition, and his neurological prognosis is reserved.

They also stated that after overcoming 16 days of "evolution," he entered a new subacute phase: "He has received ongoing, and specifically in the last 72 hours, medical and surgical care, including a tracheostomy and gastrostomy, pertinent to the de-escalation of his critical condition," they stated.

A tracheostomy is a procedure that involves an opening in the front of the neck that is made during an emergency procedure or planned surgery.

"It creates an airway for people who can't breathe on their own, who can't breathe well, or who have a blockage that affects their breathing. Some people with a medical condition, such as cancer, may need a tracheostomy if the condition is expected to cause breathing problems soon," explains the American Cancer Society.

They further detail that a tracheostomy may only be necessary for a short time (temporary), but sometimes it may be needed for the rest of a person's life (permanent):

"A temporary tracheostomy may be used when there is a blockage or injury to the trachea. It may also be used when a person needs a breathing machine (ventilator), such as in the case of severe pneumonia, a major heart attack, or a stroke," they explain.

On the other hand, when it is permanent, it may be necessary when it is necessary to remove part of the trachea due to a disease such as cancer.

The other procedure mentioned in the Santa Fe Foundation's medical report is a gastrostomy, which involves inserting a feeding tube through the skin and stomach wall, directly into the stomach .

According to Medline Plus, inserting a gastrostomy tube is done in part using a procedure called endoscopy. "This is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube with a tiny camera on the tip. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth and down the esophagus, which leads to the stomach," they explain.

They also note that after the endoscopy tube is inserted into the stomach, the skin above the left side of the abdomen is cleaned and numbed. "The surgeon makes a small surgical incision in this area. The G-tube is inserted into the stomach through this incision. Your surgeon uses sutures to close the stomach around the tube," they indicate.