Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com with another quick tip for families in intensive care.

So, today’s tip is an email that I have from Rosalie, and she says,

“Hi Patrik,

I’m a Care Manager and I have a person on my case load that was sent to ED or Emergency Room on the 22nd of December 2023 for assessment of lethargy. In the Emergency Room, she was found to be having nonstop silent seizures. Her airway became obstructed, and they intubated her. She was also diagnosed with sepsis due to a UTI. UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection. She then was found to have sustained several moderate strokes.

They have stabilized her, and she is no longer having seizures. However, when they tried to extubate her last week, within an hour, they had to intubate her again. Her trachea had narrowed, and they had to insert a pediatric tube.

She no longer requires the ventilator, but they believe a tracheostomy is the only way forward. We questioned if she just has sustained swelling to the trachea which could be resolved on its own. They said her narrowed trachea is considered to be permanent. The tracheostomy is scheduled for the 10th of January 2024 as an “elective” surgery.

She has an intellectual disability and lives in a group home. The group home is not sure that they can take her back safely. Not sure of what to even ask or advocate for. Don’t want to see her wind up in a nursing home.

From, Rosalie.”

Thank you so much Rosalie for detailing your client’s situation.

So, here’s what I would recommend if the trachea is narrowed, they may need to do a tracheal stent. Simple as that. Now, I don’t know whether they can do that easily, maybe her anatomy doesn’t work for her, or I don’t know.

But this is your first question, does she need a tracheostomy stent that can be surgically implanted? If she can have that, they might be able to dilate the trachea and she won’t need a tracheostomy. Very simple.

I have worked in intensive care for over 25 years as a critical care nurse where I also worked for over 5 years as a nurse unit manager in intensive care. I’ve been consulting and advocating for families in intensive care since 2013 here at intensivecarehotline.com.

We have saved many lives and with our consulting and advocacy and you can verify that at our testimonial section at intensivecarehotline.com, if you have a look there, or if you go to intensivecarehotline.com and you look at our podcast section with some client interviews.

So, that is my quick tip for today.

Because we get so many questions from families in intensive care over here in this situation from a case manager, we have such a long backlog of questions, and you can see the question came through in early January. It’s now late April at the time of the recording of this video. You need to call us if you need help and that’s how we can help you the quickest.

I always offer a 15-minute free phone, or Zoom, or Skype, or WhatsApp consultation, then I do have paid consulting and advocacy options.

But we also have a membership for families of critically ill patients in intensive care that you can become a member of if you go to intensivecarehotline.com, you click on the membership link or you go to intensivecaresupport.org directly. In the membership, you have access to me and my team, 24 hours a day, in the 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, 21 videos that exclusively help you to make informed decisions, have peace of mind, control, power, and influence, helping you to make sure you can navigate this incredibly difficult territory that is intensive care and the e-books and the videos will help you to make sure your love gets best care and treatment.

I also offer one-on-one consulting and advocacy over the phone, Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, whichever medium works best for you. I talk to you and your families directly and I talk to doctors and nurses directly. Once again, I ask all the questions with the doctors and nurses that you haven’t even considered asking but must be asked when you have a loved one in intensive care so that, once again, you make informed decisions, have peace of mind, control, power, and influence. I also represent you in family meetings with intensive care teams.

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

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

Now, 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, share the video with your friends and families.

I also do a weekly YouTube live where I answer your questions live on the show.

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.

Related Articles:

Quick Tip for Families in Intensive care: Is Ventilation Necessary After Tracheostomy? Quick Tip for Families in ICU: Should I Let Go of my Dad with Cancer on a Ventilator & Tracheostomy? Quick Tip for Families in ICU: 3 Things You Need to Pay Attention to for COVID ARDS in ICU! Quick Tip for Families in Intensive Care: More LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) Madness, You Won’t Believe This! Would You Send Your Loved One to LTAC On Ventilation & Tracheostomy? Quick Tip for Families in Intensive Care: From the Death Bed in ICU to a Cruise Ship Holiday! Thank You for Saving My Mom’s Life!