Ashwin Bhat
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Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist, Te Toka Tumai, Auckland, NZ
Ashwin is an Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist in Critical Care at Auckland City Hospital | Te Toka Tumai, with specialist interests in complex rehabilitation, tracheostomy management and weaning following critical illness and major surgery.
Before moving to Aotearoa New Zealand, Ashwin worked across critical care services in the UK, including major trauma and specialist critical care. His clinical practice has focused on the respiratory and rehabilitation management of critically ill patients, with particular experience in tracheostomy care, complex tracheostomy weaning, airway clearance and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. He holds a Master of Science in Health Sciences and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Practice in Critical Care. Alongside clinical practice, Ashwin has contributed to national education, professional guidance and clinical discussions in critical care and tracheostomy management in the UK, as well as presenting rehabilitation and quality improvement work at national and international conferences. |
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In his current role, Ashwin works across critical care and supports patients following major head and neck surgery, optimising respiratory function and airway clearance, facilitating progression through tracheostomy weaning, early rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary approaches that support patients’ transition from acute surgical and critical care towards meaningful functional recovery.
Rehabilitation after Major Head and Neck Surgery
This presentation will explore the physiotherapy and rehabilitation journey following major head and neck surgery, from the early postoperative period through to functional recovery. It will consider respiratory assessment and optimisation, secretion management, early mobilisation and progressive rehabilitation, alongside the challenges associated with tracheostomy management and weaning.
Particular attention will be given to patients with complex tracheostomies, where surgical anatomy, airway considerations, secretion burden and multidisciplinary decision-making may influence progression through rehabilitation and decannulation.
The session will also consider how physiotherapists can work collaboratively with surgical, nursing, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and wider multidisciplinary teams to balance safety with progression. Using a practical, patient-centred approach, the presentation will highlight opportunities to reduce complications, promote independence and support meaningful recovery following major head and neck surgery.
Particular attention will be given to patients with complex tracheostomies, where surgical anatomy, airway considerations, secretion burden and multidisciplinary decision-making may influence progression through rehabilitation and decannulation.
The session will also consider how physiotherapists can work collaboratively with surgical, nursing, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and wider multidisciplinary teams to balance safety with progression. Using a practical, patient-centred approach, the presentation will highlight opportunities to reduce complications, promote independence and support meaningful recovery following major head and neck surgery.
