Instructed patient Don't let condensation accumulate in the oxygen delivery tubing.
Instructed patient Don't allow a humidifier to empty.
Instructed patient to note the amount, color, consistency, and odor of tracheal and stomal secretions. Confirm the tracheostomy tube size and whether it's cuffed or fenestrated.
If the inner cannula is designed for reuse, clean it in a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and 0.9% sodium chloride. Wear sterile gloves and maintain aseptic technique. Remove encrusted secretions from the lumen of a metal tube with sterile pipe cleaners or a soft sterile brush. For a plastic tube, use only sterile pipe cleaners to prevent damage by a brush. After cleaning, thoroughly rinse the inner cannula with 0.9% sodium chloride solution.
Instructed patient how to reinsert the inner cannula and securely lock it into place.
Instructed patient to secure the new ties to the tracheostomy tube flanges before removing the old ones. Insert your little finger between the tie tapes and your patient's neck to check the fit and ensure his comfort.
Instructed patient to place a sterile split sponge under the tube flanges to absorb secretions.
Place the call bell where your patient can easily reach it.
Instructed patient Don't clean and reuse an inner cannula designed for one-time use.
Instructed patient Don't cut gauze and place it under the tracheostomy tube flanges; inhalation could draw fibers into the patient\'s trachea. Use a manufactured split sponge.
