Artificial Airways And Suctioning Flashcards
Endotracheal airways
Inserted by mouth (ot) or nose (nt)
Goes through epiglottis and vocal cords
ONLY USED SHORT TERM 10-14 days
Why use an artificial airway?
Prevent or reverse upper airway obstruction
Orotracheal tube (ot) advantages
Easy to insert
Large diameter decreases work of breathing
Orotracheal tube (ot) disadvantages
Uncomfortable and difficult to secure
Nasotracheal tube (nt) advantages
Easy to stabilize
More comfortable/better tolerated
Nasotracheal tube (nt) disadvantages
Difficult procedure
Limited tube size
Can irritate nasal mucosa
How is a tracheal tube/ tracheostomy inserted
Surgical procedure of tube through the neck directly into the trachea
Advantages of tracheal tube
Direct
Below epiglottis
Easily tolerated
Disadvantages of tracheal tube
Surgical procedure
Potential for infection and hemorrhage
Cuffed tubes
Most common
Filled with air
Balloon seals space between outside of tube and tracheal wall
Allows precise delivery of oxygen
Uncuffed tubes
Used when seal is not needed
Example is pediatrics
Is a trach tube sutured in place?
No, Velcro ties hold it in place
Where is the level of placement of endotrach tubes measured at
Lip line
If tube moves where does it slip into
Right main stem
How long do you have to wait before changing ties of a trach tube
96 hours
How do you change the Velcro if two people are helping
One holds trach in place and one changes the tie
If one person is changing the Velcro on a trach tube how do you do it
Put on the new one completely and then take off the old one
What do you do if the trach comes out?
Assess breathing first
Call for help and open hole
Signs and symptoms of an obstruction with the trach tube
Acute respiratory distress
Cause of infections with a trach
Decreased filtration
Humidification and warming of inspired air
How often should you empty tubing of water and change fluids and tubing
24 hours
What will happen if the trach tubes cuff is over inflated
Tissue necrosis
How can you limit tracheal damage
Place stethoscope over trachea; inflate cuff until no air passes around cuff; slightly deflate until minimal air leak
What causes vocal cord damage
Et tubes left in place more than 10-14 days
