Tracheostomy care

[Audio] Hi. My name is Ashley Robbins, I am a Registered Respiratory Therapist, and today I will be teaching you how to take care of the tracheostomy patient. Without further ado, let's get started!.

[Audio] By the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to: Understand what a tracheotomy is and some indications for the use of a tracheostomy, how to safely perform tracheostomy suctioning, how to provide tracheostomy care and to recognize any significant deviations from the normal procedure. So Let's get started!.

[Audio] Tracheostomies are commonly seen in this hospital setting by both the respiratory therapist and the registered nurse. It is up to the medical team to understand what a tracheostomy is and how to properly care for the patient who has one. A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure in which an opening or stoma is placed into the anterior trachea in order to facilitate respiration. This may be done either emergently or electively. In the case of emergent care, a tracheostomy can be placed due to an acute upper airway obstruction, penetrating laryngeal trauma, or any other acute respiratory distress if a endotracheal tube cannot be placed. Elective insertion includes a prolonged dependence on the ventilator, prophylactic tracheostomy need, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic aspiration, neuromuscular disease and subglottic stenosis..

[Audio] The following video provides a visual method on how to properly suction the trachestomy patient. The equpirtment may differ from facility. Now, using the simulation trachestomy patient practice the skills you have just learned..

[Audio] Please watch to following video the increase your understanding of the procedure of suctioning a trachestomy patient that is not on a ventilator. After watching the video, practice your skills on the simulation trachestomy patient..

[Audio] Watch the following video for an in-depth instructional guide on how to properly care for the trachestomy patient. After watching the video, perorom trachestomy care on the simulation trachestomy patient..

[Audio] Problem solving issues that the trachestomy patient has is a specialized skill set that is beyond the scope of this lesson. However, understanding common complication of the trachestomy care process is important to understand for the safety of the patient..

Lesson summary. The student understands the indications of a trachestomy The student understands how to properly suction a trachestomy patient both on and off of the ventilator The student understands how to care for the trachestomy patient including cleaning, suctioning, changing the inner cannula, etc The student has a basic understanding of the common complications of a trachestomy and understands the importance of reporting.