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Table 5
Indications of tracheostomy tube dislodgement in a patient receiving mechanical ventilation compared with a patient who is breathing spontaneouslya
Efforts to prevent tube dislodgements will help avoid catastrophic consequences. Preventive measures include keeping tracheostomy ties secure and snug (no more than a single finger should fit under the ties), removing added weight and traction from the ventilator circuit, keeping the tracheostomy tube in a midline and neutral position, and minimizing transport of the patient as much as possible. Tube security should be checked frequently and always before the patient is moved in any way.43
When dislodgement occurs, quick recognition and prompt action are key to success.
Complete decannulation occurs when the tube is completely withdrawn from the stoma. Quick recognition is important because the stoma will begin to close; the newer the stoma, the more quickly it will close. Proper management depends on the maturity of the stoma. An immature stoma (1 week old), the rate of closure of the stoma depends on how long the tube has been decannulated. If the problem is discovered quickly, the tube can usually be easily replaced. However, with time, the stoma will begin to close. In general, a mature stoma can close up to 50% within 12 hours and up to 90% within 24 hours; complete closure may take up to 2 weeks. For that reason, it is important to keep a tube of the same size and one a size smaller at the bedside at all times. Replacement of the tube is done by first removing the inner cannula and inserting the obturator into the outer cannula. The purpose of the obturator is to cushion the tip of the tube upon insertion. In some instances, the tube itself may be quite flexible, and the obturator can also act as a stylet to provide structure and control as the tube is reinserted.
The tube is initially inserted at a 90º angle to decrease the likelihood of entering a false passage. Then the tube in angled downward 90º more into position on the vertical plane and the obturator is removed.42