. ‚
A tracheotomy may be done: ‚
- To help you breathe easier. This may be helpful if you have been on a breathing machine for more than a few weeks.
- If something is blocking your airway
- If you cannot breathe on your own
View OriginalView Original
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- A nurse will teach you how to clean around your trach tube. This may be done twice a day.
- Practice good hand washing.
While your trach is in place, you cannot speak for a while. You may have breathing and vocal changes. You may need to communicate with other people by: ‚
- Writing on a piece of paper
- Trying gestures or lip reading
- Using a communication board such as a dry erase board or picture board
- Using electronic devices like an artificial sound source
- Using a talking trach tube. Your doctor can teach you how to do this.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions about: ‚
- How to clean and care for your trach tube
- Care of the opening where the tube goes into your windpipe
- How to get rid of liquid and mucus from your tube
- How to keep your breath moist and prevent blockage in your tube
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor may ask you to see a speech therapist to help if you have a talking trach. There may be aids to help you speak with a trach tube in. You may also need to work with a speech therapist to regain strength to eat.
What lifestyle changes are needed?
While your trach is in place, you cannot speak for a while. You may have breathing and vocal changes. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Avoid doing hard activities for up to 6 weeks. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- Lung infection
- Damage to your windpipe or lungs
- Trouble swallowing
- Scarring
- Tube damage or tube comes out
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, or pain with passing urine.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- Upset stomach and throwing up
- Tube comes out
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my trach.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have trouble breathing or the tube comes out.
Where can I learn more?
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/trach/ ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tracheostomy/Pages/Complications.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚