tracheostomy care nursing

Health care done right

Tracheostomy is a surgery which is done to open a restricted airway and to enable breathing in case of a prolonged respiratory problem. Tracheostomy is performed due to various reasons like; a) cancer in the neck b) chronic lung disease c) facial burns or surgery d) obstruction of the airway by a foreign body e) injury in the chest wall f) severe neck or mouth injuries g) vocal cord paralysis. If any one of these problems is there then tracheostomy needs to be done.

After the surgery, tracheostomy care nursing is very important.

Precautions to be taken

• After the surgery small amount of mucus is formed around the tube; it is important to keep the tube free from the mucus.
• No exercise should be done for atleast 6 weeks after the surgery.
• While coughing make sure that you keep a tissue with you to catch the mucus.
• Take care and protect the hole made in the neck, cover it while going out.
• Cover the tracheostomy tube with a wet cloth to keep it moist.
• Avoid swimming.
• Clean the hole atleast once a day.
• Make sure that you cover the hole with your finger, cap or valve.
  

These are a few precautions that are necessary for tracheostomy care nursing.

If the lungs are much damaged and a delay in the treatment is done then the extra pressure that is put in to push air in the lungs can reduce the blood flow to kidneys. This eventually can lead to kidney failure; in this situation dialysis needs to be done. Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood by using a machine. It is the life support system and only option for those who have had a kidney failure. This is the artificial way of helping of helping a body run and function normally like before. But getting a dialysis done of a person who already has a trach is not easy and it is also an expensive option.

In such a situation home dialysis is the best option due to many reasons:

• Dialysis can be done according to your own convenience.
• You don’t need to take an appointment.
• A person is completely independent.
• It is done at home, so friends can come and visit, this way one doesn’t feel alone.
• No sick people would be around so it won’t make one feel sick and helpless.
• It is needle free.
• It is not expensive; as one is not required to travel all the way till the hospital.

For home dialysis, one can call a technician to come home and help initially. Slowly and gradually you can do the treatment on your own with the help of someone at home. Home dialysis is much better for the body that the one which is done at home; and it is not even practical and easy to go to the hospital every week.