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General anesthesia is used and the patient is deep asleep and pain-free. The neck is cleaned and draped. Incisions are made to expose the tough cartilage rings that make up the outer wall of the trachea.
Review Date 10/15/2025
Updated by: James L. Demetroulakos, MD, F.A.C.S., Department of Otolaryngology, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
