shortness of breath
Tracheostomy
Instructed patient call your doctor if you have:fever or chills, redness, swelling, or pain that is getting worse, bleeding or drainage from the hole, cough or shortness of breath, even after you suction your tube, nausea or vomiting, any new or unusual symptoms.
Instructed patient how can I prevent infections. Keep your mouth clean. Saliva and mucus contain germs that cause infection if they enter your airway. Brush your teeth twice a day. Suction your mouth as needed. Use a mouth wash twice a day or as directed. Take deep breaths and cough 10 times each hour. This will decrease your risk for a lung infection. Take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. Let the air out and then cough strongly. Deep breaths help open your airway. You may be given an incentive spirometer to help you take deep breaths. Put the plastic piece in your mouth and take a slow, deep breath, then let the air out and cough. Repeat these steps 10 times every hour.
Patient was instructed on proper suctioning technique. To take a deep breath before applying suction to prevent depleting lung from oxygen.
Instructed patient that when on your assessment findings (coarse breath sounds, noisy breathing, and prolonged expiratory sounds) indicate that your airway needs clearing, suction it using sterile technique. Hyperoxygenate him before and after suctioning and between passes to compensate for suctioning-induced hypoxemia.
Instructed patient about some common ways to keep the air you breathe moist are:putting a wet gauze or cloth over the outside of your tube. Keep it moist, ,using a humidifier in your home when the heater is on and the air is dry. A few drops of salt water (saline) will loosen a plug of thick mucus. Put a few drops in your tube and windpipe, then take a deep breath and cough to help bring up the mucus.