How Do You Care For Tracheostomy Patients?
A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the trachea–the windpipe that leads to the lungs–to help the patient breathe. The resulting opening is called a stoma and requires daily care to prevent infection. Patients with a recent tracheostomy or patients on ventilators may require more frequent care. Wash your hands and instruct the patient to lie on their back with a towel roll under their shoulders. This will allow you to see the stoma and tracheostomy tube more easily. Pour hydrogen peroxide solution into one cup and sterile water into another. Soak cotton swabs in the hydrogen peroxide solution and clean the skin around the tube. Use one swab for each quarter-circle around the stoma without allowing any solution to get into the tracheostomy tube or stoma. Your doctor may instruct you to use soap and water in some cases, reserving hydrogen peroxide only for encrusted secretions. Rinse the area around the stoma with a cotton swab soaked in sterile water.
