Keeping a tracheostomy safe at home after a crash
Daily safety tips from a respiratory therapist and an ear, nose and throat specialist
A tracheostomy is a hole in the neck that air can pass through to reach the windpipe. After a crash, you may need one for a short time or for longer. Heading home with one can feel scary. A tube that gets blocked or slips out of place can affect breathing fast. A respiratory therapist teaches daily care and suctioning. An airway specialist sets the tube plan and decides when the tube may be swapped or taken out. [1]
Show the team you can do each step
Before you leave the hospital, have the team walk you and your helper through each task. These include cleaning around the opening, changing any inner cannula (a removable inner tube) and securing the tube. They also include using the suction equipment prescribed for you. Then do each task yourself while they watch. [1, 2]
Find out how often each task should be done. Ask what mucus is normal for you. Don’t make up your own way of changing the tube or suctioning based on a general article. [1, 2]
Store supplies and emergency steps together
Make sure you know which spare tube sizes, suction supplies, humidifier equipment and backup power to keep on hand. Know who brings replacements and who to call after hours. Take your written airway plan with you whenever you leave home. Let every doctor, nurse or therapist you see know about your tracheostomy. Find out if water should stay away from the opening and how to wash safely. [1, 2]
Respond fast to breathing changes
If the tube comes out and you can’t carry out the replacement plan you trained for, call emergency services. Also call if breathing is still hard after you follow the steps your team taught you. Get prompt advice from your care team for thick mucus, a tube that keeps plugging, bleeding or fever. Red skin around the opening needs a prompt call too. When airflow seems at risk, don’t wait for a routine appointment. [1, 2]
Questions about your airway plan
- Who on the team has done hands on training with my helper and me?
- Which supplies and spare tube sizes should I have at home?
- What’s my emergency plan if the tube gets blocked or comes out?
Keep everything in one marked spot
Sources and further reading
This is general guidance based on respiratory therapy and airway care. Follow your own written airway plan. A blocked or dislodged tube with trouble breathing is an emergency.
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