Our Tracheostomy Management Program features licensed respiratory care practitioners on-site, new state-of-the-art respiratory equipment, and an interdisciplinary medical team to best manage the complex care of trach patients. With the advent of smart telephone technology, remote evaluations are seamless and beneficial 24/7.
What is a Tracheostomy?
A tracheostomy is an opening created in a patient’s throat by a surgeon or Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist to assist their breathing. It is performed to bypass an obstruction such as a throat tumor and, more often, when a patient has been hospitalized on life support for a prolonged period (usually around two weeks).
Some patients may require a tracheostomy tube for the rest of their lives. Still, others may be excellent candidates for having the tracheostomy removed and the stoma (throat opening) reseal itself.
Options?
I. Decannulation (removal) of the tracheostomy tube. After the patient is evaluated to see if they are a candidate for tube removal, they are placed on a decannulation protocol. Using equipment that allows the patient to breathe independently through the mouth and speak with family and staff, the protocol gradually increases mouth and nose breathing while decreasing reliance on the tracheostomy tube.
When the patient can tolerate mouth and nose breathing for 24-48 hours and is deemed ready, the tracheostomy tube is painlessly removed at the bedside. The stoma is covered with a dressing, and in about ten days, the opening closes. This is beneficial because not having the windpipe occupied by a tracheostomy tube decreases the chances of respiratory tract infections.
II. If the patient is not considered a candidate for decannulation, a communication protocol is initiated so that the patient can safely communicate with loved ones and staff. This patient is evaluated regularly, and if the underlying situation changes and/or the team deems that decannulation can be safely achieved, another attempt is made.
Regardless of the situation, our team at Spring Creek communicates with the patient and family every step of the way so that everyone is on the same page and has common goals.
Our trach patients benefit from:
Our Goal
To reverse the throat opening as soon “as safely possible” and reintegrate the patient back home with loved ones.
Spring Creek Healthcare Center, 1 Lindbergh Avenue Perth Amboy, NJ 08861