Tracheostomy Care For Children

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it?

• A tracheostomy (tray-kee-AH-stuh-mee) or "trach" is a tube to help your child breathe. It is put into your child's trachea through a small opening in your child's neck called a stoma. The trachea is also called the windpipe. Your child's trach tube may have one or two parts. If your child's trach tube has one part, it will be made of material that resists sticking. If it has two parts, the part that fits into your child's stoma is called the outer cannula. The inner cannula fits inside the outer cannula, and locks in place. This stops the cannula from coming out if your child coughs.
  
  
• Trach care is needed to help your child breathe more easily. Your child needs you to do this for him at least twice a day. It is very important that you care for your child's trach correctly, and as often as it is needed. Caring for your child's trach means suctioning your child, cleaning your child's stoma, and cleaning or changing equipment.
  
  
  • Suctioning: Suctioning is done using a long thin tube (catheter) with a hole to control when, and how long, you suction. The tube is attached to a machine that makes the suction. Suctioning removes fluids that build up in your child's throat. If the fluids get too thick to be coughed out, they must be suctioned.
    
    
  • Cleaning: Cleaning keeps the cannula path, and your child's airway open.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

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