Nursing Strategies
ICU nurses have an instrumental role in preventing complications in patients with tracheostomies and in identifying problems before the problems become emergencies.
1. A suction catheter is the most important tool. Passing a suction catheter well beyond the length of the tube ensures that the tube is in the proper position, and suctioning removes secretions and stimulates a strong cough, which can mobilize more secretions.
2. The stoma should be kept clean and dry to prevent skin breakdown. Cotton-tipped swabs should be used to clean the stoma behind the neck flange at least once per shift.
3. The tracheostomy tube should be kept in a neutral position. Traction forces should be removed and the tube supported as necessary by using the ventilator support arms, or a strategically placed towel roll.
4. If inserting a suction catheter is difficult, a tracheostomy evaluation should be requested, even if the patient is in no distress. Recognizing potential problems before an emergency develops is important.
5. After the patient no longer requires ventilatory support, cuffs should be deflated and remain deflated, unless airway protection is a concern. Furthermore, because an inflated cuff interferes with the swallow mechanism, patients with an inflated cuff should not be fed orally.52
6. Each time bedside report is given, information pertinent to the tracheostomy should be passed on to the next shift. This information is summarized inTable 7.
Nursing Strategies
ICU nurses have an instrumental role in preventing complications in patients with tracheostomies and in identifying problems before the problems become emergencies.
1. A suction catheter is the most important tool. Passing a suction catheter well beyond the length of the tube ensures that the tube is in the proper position, and suctioning removes secretions and stimulates a strong cough, which can mobilize more secretions.
2. The stoma should be kept clean and dry to prevent skin breakdown. Cotton-tipped swabs should be used to clean the stoma behind the neck flange at least once per shift.
3. The tracheostomy tube should be kept in a neutral position. Traction forces should be removed and the tube supported as necessary by using the ventilator support arms, or a strategically placed towel roll.
4. If inserting a suction catheter is difficult, a tracheostomy evaluation should be requested, even if the patient is in no distress. Recognizing potential problems before an emergency develops is important.
5. After the patient no longer requires ventilatory support, cuffs should be deflated and remain deflated, unless airway protection is a concern. Furthermore, because an inflated cuff interferes with the swallow mechanism, patients with an inflated cuff should not be fed orally.52
6. Each time bedside report is given, information pertinent to the tracheostomy should be passed on to the next shift. This information is summarized inTable 7.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
