Overview
Why Tracheostomy Care Begins with the Airway
A tracheostomy changes the route by which the patient breathes, clears secretions, and receives humidified air.
A tracheostomy changes the route by which the patient breathes, clears secretions, and receives humidified air. Routine care therefore has an airway priority: determine whether the patient is ventilating through a patent, correctly positioned tube before cleaning, suctioning, or changing equipment. A patient who appears ready for routine care may instead be developing obstruction, displacement, a cuff problem, or respiratory deterioration. The sequence moves from patient assessment to controlled care, then to the findings that require emergency escalation.