A three-way tracheal dilator is a surgical tool used to widen the trachea (windpipe) for inserting a tracheostomy tube or to assist in other airway procedures. Its primary uses include assisting in a tracheotomy, facilitating tube changes, and treating stomal stenosis (narrowing of the stoma). The three-blade design ensures a uniform opening to make it easier to insert the tube without causing injury.

Tracheotomy:

During a tracheotomy, surgeons make an incision into the trachea to bypass an obstruction in the upper airway. The dilator is used to gently and safely widen the incision, making it easier to insert the tracheostomy tube that allows the patient to breathe through this opening.

Tracheostomy tube changes:

The device is used to open the stoma (the opening in the neck) when a tracheostomy tube is being changed or replaced. This is particularly useful when the stoma is not yet fully matured or has narrowed since the initial procedure.

Stomal stenosis:

In cases where the stoma has narrowed, the dilator is used to widen the opening to facilitate the insertion of a new tracheostomy tube.