Cleaning Your Tracheostomy Tube Inner Cannula

Laura Castricone, CRT Article published Jul 06, 2021 Article updated Sep 05, 2023

A tracheostomy tube is placed in a sterile area of the airway via a surgical incision in the front of the neck. It is essential to perform daily cleaning to keep the tube clean, to prevent cross-contamination and/or infection and to prevent blockage of the tube. The inner cannula, which is in almost all trach tubes, is removable and can be cleaned or changed daily.

Cleaning Trach tube with a Disposable Inner Cannula

Using gloves, remove the inner cannula daily or several times per day and replace it with a new one.
Make sure the new inner cannula is “locked” in place by squeezing tabs or turning to lock in place
If by chance, you run out of disposable inner cannulas, you can follow the procedure below until your new supply arrives.

Cleaning Trach tube with a Permanent Inner Cannula

This may need to be performed once or several times per day depending on patient needs
Prepare the area by getting out gloves and trach care kit (which contains all or most of the following: plastic tray, gloves, small brush, twill to be used as a trach tie)
Remove inner cannula and place in tray
Soak your inner cannula in peroxide for about 8 minutes
If a brush is provided in your kit, scrub your inner cannula inside and out with the brush and peroxide, if no brush is provided, just let cannula soak.
Once cannula is clean, rinse with sterile water, shake off excess and replace inner cannula into trach tube
Remember to “lock” your inner cannula back into place by lining up the “dots” or turning until you feel it click into place.

With either procedure above, try to avoid having your new or clean inner cannula come in contact with any surface. Always use gloves when handling or changing your inner cannula. Be gentle when removing or replacing inner cannula. Never force a cannula into the tube; if it will not go in easily, contact your doctor, home health care nurse or clinician as soon as possible.

All You Need To Know About Tracheostomy

Ostomy Care: Stoma Care Instructions

Speaking Valves For Tracheostomy Tubes

Oxygen and Tracheostomy

Humidification to Trach Via Large Volume Nebulizer Or Jet Neb

Humidification to Tracheostomy Via Hme (Heat/Moisture Exchanger)

What Is Decannulation?

Monthly Tracheostomy Supplies Needed

Suctioning Your Tracheostomy Tube

Why Do Some People Need To Have A Tracheostomy?

Author Profile: Laura Castricone, Respiratory Therapist

Laura Castricone (Certified Respiratory Therapist)

My name is Laura Castricone and I am a Certified Respiratory Therapist. I have been practicing in the state of Connecticut since 1992. I have worked in several aspects of respiratory care including sleep medicine, critical care, rehab, and home care. I earned my respiratory certification at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. Prior to becoming an RT, I attended the University of Connecticut pursuing a degree in English but left Uconn in my junior year to work with my father in the restaurant business. I stayed with him for over a dozen years. An education, by the way, that can never be bought! Once I married and had children, the restaurant business no longer fit my lifestyle. When my children were one and two years old, I decided to go back to school and that is where my career in respiratory care began. This career has been very rewarding and I have been blessed to meet some extraordinary people along the way. I grew up in Waterbury, CT, and now live in Litchfield County, CT with my husband and our crazy Jack Russell terrier, Hendrix. My hobbies include antiquing, gardening, writing plays, and painting miniature paintings.

Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.

Laura Castricone, CRT

My name is Laura Castricone and I am a Certified Respiratory Therapist. I have been practicing in the state of Connecticut since 1992. I have worked in several aspects of respiratory ...

Cleaning Your Tracheostomy Tube Inner Cannula

Cleaning Trach tube with a Disposable Inner Cannula

Cleaning Trach tube with a Permanent Inner Cannula

Laura Castricone, CRT

Trending Articles