Having a Tracheostomy

As you are now breathing through the tracheostomy tube you will need to warm and moisten the air that you breathe. This is called humidification. To help keep your airway clear you must cough up secretions off your chest and humidification will help you to do this more effectively. Regular deep breathing will also help. Wipe away any mucus straight away. Do not leave it to build up.

Drinking a good amount of water helps keep mucus clear and loose enough to cough up and reduces the build up of dry crusts.

Humidification can be provided by:

• wearing a tracheostomy protector, tied around the neck(sometimes described as a bib),over the tracheostomy tube. There are different types sizes and colours. This is available on prescription and your specialist nurse will discuss this with you. A nebuliser with normal saline solution will help to keep secretions loose.
• A nebuliser is will be ordered (usually from the community loan department) for you to take home. You and your family will be shown how to use this and the normal saline is available on prescription. You may be prescribed some medication to help your breathing if you suffer with asthma, and this can be taken using the nebuliser.
• Filters, such as thermovents and trachi-nase plus can be applied directly on to the tracheostomy tube to warm and moisten the air as you breathe. Your specialist nurse will discuss these with you.

Tracheostomy protectors and filters will also prevent you inhaling any dust in the air as well as warm and moisten the air and this helps to replace the functions of the nose. They can provide a cover for your tracheostomy and help stop secretions soiling bed-linen and clothes etc.

Central heating may cause a dry atmosphere, some people find leaving dishes of water around the house helps prevent this or by using electric room humidifiers which can be purchased from shops such Argos or Boots.

A suction unit will be ordered for you to take home and this will assist you in the removal of your secretions if you are unable to cough them out yourself. This is usually ordered from the community loan department. You and your family will be taught how to use this before you go home. As your body becomes more accustomed to the tracheostomy you may require less suction or none at all.

It is important to ensure that you always have a good supply of suction catheters and tubing, and that the machine is always ready for use. It will need to be serviced yearly.

You are entitled to free prescriptions, please ask your GP to sign a claim form for you. Most of the items you will need are available on prescription and can be obtained through your GP or District Nurses

Prescription items can be ordered and then delivered by Countrywide Supplies to the patients/relatives home. Your specialist nurse will discuss this with you and provide you with some written information.