What Care is Required for Tracheostomy?

Proper care is essential for maintaining a tracheostomy and preventing complications. Tracheostomy care is to be done to keep your tracheostomy tube clean. It helps prevent a clogged tube and reduces the risk of infection. Tracheostomy care includes suctioning and cleaning parts of the trach tube and your skin. Your medical provider will guide you on caring for your trach tube and what to do in an emergency.

What comes in a Trach Cleaning Kit?

A Tracheostomy Care Kit is a preassembled set of sterile, single-use equipment that is required for tracheostomy care. These kits consist of three rigid sections for cleaning, soaking, and rinsing, respectively.

The trach kit has all the tools you need to clean the stoma and trach tubing to make the procedure easier and patient-friendly. It includes sterile saline solution or sterile water, a soft-bristled brush, a suction catheter for removing excess mucus, sterile gauze or a tracheostomy dressing for cleaning and covering the stoma site, Medical gloves, a waterproof pad to protect clothing or bedding, a container for holding and disposing of used supplies

Regular cleaning and maintenance will help the patient breathe better, reducing the risk of debris or fluids being aspirated into the lungs. Also, regular care keeps the patient from contracting an easily-avoidable infection.

Tracheostomy Care Kit Contents

Pre-sewn trach dressing
Gauze sponges
Pipe cleaners
One cleaning brush
Cotton-tipped applicators
32” twill tape
Plastic forceps
French suction catheter
10cc syringe
Latex gloves
Hydrogen peroxide

How to clean Tracheostomy Tube?

To clean the inner cannula

Wash your hands.
Gently remove the inner cannula while holding the neck plate with one hand.
Soak the reusable inner cannula in hydrogen peroxide solution and soak until debris is softened or removed.
Use the trach brush or pipe cleaner to clean the tube's inside, outside, and creases.
Ensure the inner cannula is clean and clear of blood and dried mucus.
Rinse the trach tube in saline or sterile salt water.
Re-insert the cannula while holding the neck plate of the trach still.

To clean the skin around the stoma:

Remove the gauze pads from behind the neck plate and see if there is any skin breakdown or infection.
Clean the area around the stoma using clean gauze pads dabbed in normal saline solution.
Use a new gauze pad every time you wipe a new area of your skin to prevent infection.
Dip clean cotton tips in the hydrogen peroxide and water solution to wipe dried mucus or clean from under the flanges.
If you use a hydrogen peroxide mixture on your skin, rinse the area with a normal saline solution afterward.
Use dry gauze to gently pat dry the area around your stoma.
Apply antibacterial ointment if directed by your medical provider.
Put a clean, precut gauze pad under the neck plate.

Things to keep in mind when performing Trach Cleaning

Do not forget to keep all the supplies required for tracheostomy care near the bed before starting the procedure. It is advisable to use pre-packaged Tracheostomy cleaning kits containing gauze pads, cotton tip applicators, dressings, Hydrogen Peroxide, NACL solution (0.9%), a suction kit, and sterile gloves. Also, check the Velcro strap that holds the tracheostomy tube in place. Replace if it is soiled.
It must be ensured that the patient is pre-oxygenated with 100% oxygen before suctioning. The patient should be calm during the procedure. If he/she is agitated, a sedative should be given, or the procedure must be rescheduled for a later time. Post-tracheostomy pain medications are given to the patients to help them adapt to the tracheostomy tube.
After the tracheostomy care procedure is completed, the soiled dressings and other supplies used during the procedure must be discarded in a biohazard container to maintain hygiene. Pain medications must be given if necessary.

Complications of Tracheostomy Care

Tracheostomy care and maintenance is a benign procedure. There is a risk that the tube may be accidentally removed or the airway lost. Seek emergency medical help in any such situation. Try the Covidien Kendall Standard Trach Care Tray with Plastic Forceps and CareFusion AirLife Tracheostomy Kit for effective tracheostomy care.

Where to buy a Tracheostomy Care Kit online?

Buy top-quality Tracheostomy cleaning kits from top manufacturers like Covidien/Medtronic, Cardinal Health Products, Amsino International, etc., at the best prices on HPFY!