In your role as a healthcare provider, you will inevitably provide care for patients who have a tracheostomy, whether it is a permanent airway or a transition to weaning. The skills that you should be able to perform include:
- Tracheostomy replacement after accidental decannulation
- Suctioning techniques
- Replacement of the inner cannula
- How to care for a fenestrated tracheostomy
- BLS in patients with a tracheostomy
- What to do when decannulation occurs and your are unable to reinsert the tracheostomy tube
You should also recognized the many complications associated with tracheostomy, including infection, occlusion with hypoxemia, air leaks and pneumothorax, and you should be able to initiate prehospital treatment when indicated.
When dealing with patients with a chronic condition that has resulted in dramatic decreases in quality of life, you should be aware of the limitations they may face, and you should be able to use that knowledge to facilitate helpful communication between your team and the patient, and with the patient’s family or caregiver.
