Why would someone have a trachea tube?

A person may have a tracheotomy for several reasons. Long term airway management such as someone who is unable to maintain their airway's due to cancer or lung disease. They may have one from an emergency procedure such as a choking when the airway could not be cleared and all other means of airway management have been exhausted. A person may be intubated for the above reasons also. The difference in the two is in intubation, a person has a tube inserted into the trachea from their mouth. A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure in which, to put it simply, a hole is cut into the trachea at a precise landmark, bypassing the upper airway completely. As said above this measure is normally reserved for long term care.