Final answer:
The procedure called a tracheotomy is performed to gain access to the airway below a blockage by making an incision in the trachea. It is a critical medical intervention that can be life-saving.
Step-by-step explanation:
The procedure in which an incision is made into the trachea to gain access to the airway below a blockage is called a tracheotomy. This medical intervention is performed when the upper airway is obstructed, allowing air to reach the lungs directly. Bronchoscopy is a procedure involving the insertion of a bronchoscope to view the inside of the airways; endotracheal intubation is the placement of a tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea to maintain an open airway; and laryngoscopy involves visualizing the larynx. A tracheotomy is an essential procedure that can be life-saving in situations of respiratory distress caused by blockages.