![]() Strategies for Suctioning Tracheostomy Secretionsīefore suctioning a tracheostomy, thoroughly wash your hands and wear gloves to reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens to the patient. When a patient cannot clear their own airway, proceed with suctioning. If the patient cannot breathe, shows signs of aspiration, or cannot follow instructions, do not waste time trying to get them to clear their own airway. Placing warm gauze over the trach tube.Squirting sterile saline fluid into their trach tube and then attempting to cough again.To reduce the risk of suctioning complications, a patient having trouble managing tracheostomy secretions should first try to clear their own airway by: Most healthcare providers recommend suctioning the tracheostomy twice a day, though recommendations are evolving. However, suctioning does present some risks, which makes it important to avoid over suctioning patients. Suctioning can greatly reduce the risk of tracheostomy-related complications. This makes them especially vulnerable to infections related to poorly managed secretions. Many patients with tracheostomies already have other health issues, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a history of severe airway infections, prior airway trauma, or difficulty withdrawing from a mechanical ventilator. This increases the risk of a number of health issues, including: When tracheostomy cuffs are kept inflated for a prolonged period, these secretions can pool in the airway. This causes the body to produce more secretions. A trach tube bypasses the upper airway, which normally cleans and moistens the air. Secretions are a natural reaction to tracheostomy, not a sign of a problem. This causes secretions to accumulate in the airway, although the volume and thickness of the secretions vary significantly from patient to patient. Medical professionals, first responders, and patients with tracheostomies must learn how to manage secretions to improve patient comfort and reduce the risk of infection, aspiration, and other complications. Tracheostomy reduces cough strength, lowers subglottic pressure, and weakens sensations in the pharynx and larynx. ![]() Tracheostomies are increasingly part of healthcare, particularly in long-term care facilities and intensive care units, which means all medical providers must master tracheostomy and secretion management.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |