Instructed patient call your doctor if you have:fever or chills, redness, swelling, or pain that is getting worse, bleeding or drainage from the hole, cough or shortness of breath, even after you suction your tube, nausea or vomiting, any new or unusual symptoms.
Instructed patient once the hole in your neck is not sore from the surgery, clean the hole with a cotton swab or a cotton ball at least once a day to prevent infection.
Instructed patient not breathe in water, food, powder, or dust. When you take a shower, cover the hole with a tracheostomy cover. You will not be able to go swimming.
Instructed patient about some common ways to keep the air you breathe moist are:putting a wet gauze or cloth over the outside of your tube. Keep it moist, ,using a humidifier in your home when the heater is on and the air is dry. A few drops of salt water (saline) will loosen a plug of thick mucus. Put a few drops in your tube and windpipe, then take a deep breath and cough to help bring up the mucus.
Instructed patient your nose will no longer keep the air you breathe moist. Talk with your doctor about how to keep the air you breathe moist and how to prevent plugs in your tube.
Instructed patient when you cough, have a tissue or cloth ready to catch the mucus coming from your tube. Is important to keep the tube free of thick mucus. You should always carry an extra tube with you in case your tube gets plugged.
Instructed patient it is important to keep the tube free of thick mucus. You should always carry an extra tube with you in case your tube gets plugged. Once you put in the new tube, clean the old one and keep it with you as your extra tube.
Instructed patient contact your healthcare provider or physician immediately: when secretions become thick, if crusting occurs or mucus plugs are present. Your physician may recommend increasing your fluids or using cool mist humidification. If you have any other problems or concerns.
Instructed patient contact your healthcare provider or physician immediately: if you have an irregular heart rate, if you feel increased pain or discomfort and if you have difficulty breathing and it is not relieved by your usual method of clearing secretions. Patient verbalized understanding.
Instructed patient how do I care for my skin around my trach tube. Clean your skin at least once each day. You may need to clean it more often if you cough up a lot of thick mucus. You may need someone to help you clean your skin. Wash your hands and put on gloves. This will prevent infection. Suction the area around your stoma. This will help remove mucus .Clean your skin around the stoma, clean the tube flanges, change wet or dirty trach ties., place a gauze between your skin and the flanges and check your skin every day for signs of infection. Look for redness or swelling of the skin around your tube. Also look for pus, bleeding, or a rash.