Tracheostomy airway tube, illustration. This emergency procedure is performed to establish a new airway for a patient whose normal airway has been obstructed or damaged. A tracheostomy tube is inserted through the incision made in the trachea. This is a cuffed version of a tracheostomy tube, with a balloon cuff that has been inflated inside the trachea to hold the tube in place. This tube is connected to a ventilator. Higher up the throat, the anatomy of the airway is labelled, showing the larynx, oesophagus and vocal cords.