25/07/2022
Tracheostomy care at Home
Insert the catheter and apply suction. Guide the catheter gently into the tracheal tube until the patient begins to cough or until it stops and cannot go any further. This should be approximately 4 to 5 inches (10.2 to 12.7 cm) deep into the tracheostomy tube in most cases. The natural curve of the catheter should follow the curve of the tracheal tube. Think of the catheter as a vacuuming device for cleaning the tracheal tube.The catheter should be pulled back a little before suction is applied, which should make the patient more comfortable.
Apply suction by covering the thumb control vent while withdrawing the catheter from the tracheal tube in a slow and circular motion. Suction should not be applied for longer than about 10 seconds, during which the catheter should be rotating and pulling out consistently. There should always be suction on the way out.
Tracheostomy tubes come in several sizes and materials such as semi-flexible plastic, rigid plastic, and metal. Some tubes are disposable, while others are reusable.
