| Infection is another potential postoperative infection, and may occur in the respiratory tract or at the stoma. Surgical emphysema, as mentioned above may occur, and in that case the tape should be assessed to ensure it is correctly secured and not too tight. Normally a child will stay in the hospital for a week postoperatively. (12, 13)
The way to check for problems consists of observation of the neck to look for swelling, placing a finger above the opening of the tube and checking for air passage, checking the tape tension to ensure it is not too tight yet adequately secure to support the tube, and inspection and auscultation for equal bilateral air movement. | | | | |
