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Can you survive with a tracheostomy in the throat? This is a question we get quite frequently here at intensivecarehotline.com and I’ve got the answers for you today.

My name is Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com and this is another quick tip for families in intensive care.

So, we get this question quite frequently, how can one survive with the tracheostomy in the throat. That probably should be phrased differently with the tracheostomy in the neck. So, if a patient has a tracheostomy in the neck, it means that the tube is placed in the throat and in the neck to help a patient breathe. People can live with a tracheostomy, but it requires proper care with intensive care nurses, 24 hours a day.

Here are some key things to know about surviving and managing a tracheostomy. 

Number 1, breathing and airway care. Tracheostomy tube keeps the airway open. It must stay clean to prevent infections or blockages. Suctioning might be needed to clear mucus and secretions that help with breathing. Humidified air or humidified oxygen can prevent dryness in the throat.

Now, also, what is important to know, a tracheostomy is usually done for two reasons. The first reason is to help weaning someone off a ventilator and it can also be done because patients can’t swallow, or they can’t clear their airway. So, those are the reasons why a tracheostomy is generally being done.

Next, another question that comes up with this quite frequently is eating and drinking. If a patient is awake and stable, speech therapist may evaluate whether a patient can eat safely or if a patient needs a feeding tube. Sometimes, people with tracheostomies can swallow, normally with training, that is the exception of the rule from my experience.

Communication. The patient can’t talk due to the tracheostomy. Patient might be able to use a speaking valve like a Passy-Muir valve if doctors allow it. Writing gestures or an app can help with communication, of course. Also, what can help is the cuff down in a tracheostomy, can also help with speaking, but that is only if a patient can swallow and is close to having and the tracheostomy removed.

Next, infection prevention. Tracheostomy site must be cleaned daily to avoid infections. Watch for redness, swelling, pus, or fever, which could mean an infection. Now, the tracheostomy site must be cleaned daily only by intensive care nurses or by critical care nurses with a minimum of 2 years critical care nursing experience, that is evidence-based.

Mobility and recovery. Some people with tracheostomies can go home and live with it if their condition improves, and that can be done with a service like Intensive Care at Home and I encourage you to find out at intensivecareathome.com.

If a tracheostomy is temporary, doctors might remove it when a patient is stronger but there’s a process that I’ve described in other videos around how to remove a tracheostomy. First thing that needs to be done in a situation like this is weaning off the ventilator, and once that’s done weaning off the tracheostomy. Once again, if that can’t be achieved, then you should be looking at Intensive Care at Home. You can find more information at intensivecareathome.com.

Now, I have worked in critical care nursing for 25 years in three different countries where I worked as a nurse manager for over 5 years in intensive care, and I’ve been consulting and advocating for families in intensive care since 2013 here at intensivecarehotline.com. I can very, very, very confidently say that we have saved many lives for our families and intensive care for our clients. 

You can verify that on our testimonial section at intensivecarehotline.com and you can verify it on our intensivecarehotline.com podcast section where we have done client interviews.

Now, also, when it comes to tracheostomy, just quickly coming back to today’s topic, nebulizers help, regular nebulizers, regular inner tube and inner cannular changes help. But all of that needs to be done by critical care nurses, 24 hours a day; otherwise, the risk of a patient having medical emergency or dying is real.

So, like I said, we have helped hundreds and hundreds of members and clients over the years to make informed decisions, have peace of mind, control, power, and influence, making sure they make informed decisions so that their loved ones get the best care and treatment always.

You can join a growing number of clients and members here at intensivecarehotline.com, making sure your loved one gets best care and treatment. Our advice is absolutely life changing. 

Once again, you can verify that on our testimonial section. You can verify it on our intensivecarehotline.com podcast section with our client interviews.

That’s why I do one-on-one consulting and advocacy over the phone, Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, whichever medium works best for you. When I talk to you and your families directly. I handhold you through this once in a lifetime situation that you simply can’t afford to get wrong. I also talk to doctors and nurses directly. When I talk to doctors and nurses directly with you or on your behalf or on a three-way call or I set you up with the right questions to ask, I will ask all the questions that you haven’t even considered asking but must be asked when you have a loved one critically ill in intensive care. I also represent you in family meetings with intensive care teams.

We also do medical record reviews in real time, so that you can get a second opinion in real time. We also do medical record reviews after intensive care if you have unanswered questions, if you need closure, or if you are suspecting medical negligence.

We also have a membership for families of critically ill patients in intensive care. You can become a member if you go to intensivecarehotline.com, if you click on the membership link, or if you go to intensivecaresupport.org directly. In the membership, you have access to me and my team, 24 hours a day, in a membership area and via email, and we answer all questions intensive care related. In the membership, you also have exclusive access to 21 e-books and 21 videos only for our members that will help you to make informed decisions, have peace of mind, control, power, and influence, making sure your loved one gets the best care and treatment.

All of that, you get at intensivecarehotline.com. Call us on one of the numbers on the top of our website or simply send us an email to [email protected] with your questions.

If you like my videos, subscribe to my YouTube channel for regular updates for families in intensive care, click the like button, click the notification bell, comment below what you want to see next, what questions and insights you have from this video, share this video with your friends and families.

I also do a weekly YouTube Live where I answer your questions live on the show. You will get notification for the YouTube live if you are a subscriber to my YouTube channel, or if you are a subscriber to my intensivecarehotline.com email newsletter at intensivecarehotline.com.

Thank you so much for watching.

This is Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com and I will talk to you in a few days.

Take care for now.

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