Tracheostomy Suction Procedure

Tracheostomy suction procedure can be done every 2 hours or as needed when the patient breathes by loading crackle or wheezing sounds, or when there are excessive secretions and it performed by washing hands then inserting the suction catheter through the tracheostomy tube within shorter distance around 4 to 5 inches or 10 to 12.5 cm or until the nurse feel the resistance caused by the contact between the catheter and the lower end of the tracheal cartilage then she should raise the catheter approximately half inch or 1.25 cm to start suctioning this process should not take more than 10 seconds at a time. Further, the nurse should instruct the patient to breathe 4 to 5 breaths during each aspiration. Nurses can administer analgesia or sedative medications as prescribed with precaution to not affecting the coughing reflexes.
Bare et al (2010) stated that the appropriate position for the patient with tracheostomy is the semi-fowler position and elevate the head with 30 degree for several reasons including allowing the lungs to expand, make the tracheostomy fixed and more accessible, facilitate the ventilation, minimize edema, and promote drainage. Moreover, nurses should take in consideration the risk of skin breaking down particularly for long term care patient because the frequent building up of the mucus and the rubbing of tube may irritate the skin under or around the stoma therefore, it should be cleaned twice daily minimal to avoid odor and