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Nursing care is specific in otorhinolaryngology, particularly in oncology. The three dimensions of the care, technical, relational and educational, are essential and reflect the quality of the patient management which must be multi-disciplinary., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The evolution of a patient suffering from a serious head injury can require the placement of a tracheotomy. This helps with respirator weaning and usually enables the patient to be moved from the neurosurgical intensive care ward to the neurosurgery ward. Patients fitted with a tracheotomy will therefore be cared for by post-intensive care neurological rehabilitation departments.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and to describe wound complications and associated risk factors of pediatric tracheotomy., Design: Retrospective case series., Setting: Freestanding tertiary care academic pediatric hospital., Patients: Sixty-five consecutive children undergoing tracheotomy over 15 months., Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative wound complications objectively and independently documented by an advanced practice nurse specializing in tracheotomy care. Secondary outcome measures included comorbidities, mortality rates, and wound status after subsequent examinations and management., Results: The mean (SEM) patient age at tracheotomy was 45 (8.7) months (median age, 9.1 months). The most common indication for tracheotomy was pulmonary disease (36.9%), followed by neurologic impairment and laryngeal abnormalities. There were 19 patients (29%) with and 46 patients (71%) without wound complications. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age (P = .68) or weight (P = .55); however, infants younger than 12 months had an increased complication rate (39% vs. 17%, P = .04). The type of tracheotomy tube was predictive of postoperative wound complications (P = .02). All patients with wounds received aggressive local wound care. Five of 13 patients had complete resolution of stomal wounds, whereas 8 patients had persistent wound issues. There were 5 non-wound-related mortalities., Conclusions: With attempts to classify tracheotomy wound breakdowns as reportable events, including never events, increasing emphasis is being placed on posttracheotomy care. This study demonstrates that wound breakdown in pediatric tracheotomy patients is common. These complications can be mitigated, although not prevented completely, with aggressive wound surveillance and specialized wound care.

Introduction: Complications related to the artificial airway (endotracheal tube and tracheotomy) in intensive care units are a major health problem that depends largely on the management and care applied to these devices. The daily challenge of nursing professionals is to minimize the incidence of these complications (among which highlights the pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation)., Interventions: We analyzed 21 measures related to management of these devices in order to reflect the recommendations based on scientific evidence and provide quality care applied to the patient that need these devices., Conclusions: Compliance with the standards for care and management of patients with an artificial airways is vital in reducing the incidence of complications associated with these devices. Not all management rules are standardized.

Tracheotomy is performed on patients with airway obstruction or prolonged mechanical ventilation. Tracheotomy patients are increasingly being referred to hospice and palliative care. This case series describes a process for evaluating the ongoing need for tracheotomy and the impact of tracheotomy removal. A retrospective cohort design was used in which charts were reviewed of all tracheotomy patients referred to the palliative care unit between November 1, 1998, and July 31, 2001. Tracheotomy was present in 13 of 791 palliative care unit admissions. Persistent airway obstruction contraindicated tracheotomy removal in 5 patients. The remaining patients had a successful "button" trial with subsequent tracheotomy removal. They incurred no complications and exhibited improved functional status and decreased symptom burden. Tracheotomy removal is safe and beneficial in this patient subset and should be considered an alternative to prolonged tracheotomy.

Use of simulation for nursing skill development can provide effective learning while minimizing risk to patients. However, simulators are expensive and portability can be limited. The author describes how to create a low-cost model for simulating tracheotomy suctioning and care. Construction is simple, with estimated materials cost for making the model less than 100 dollars.

Tracheal suctioning is essential to maintain permeability of the artificial airway. This procedure may be associated to risks for the patients. Thus, it is very important to know if the nurses perform it correctly and if the practice is based on scientific evidence. This investigations objectives are: evaluate practical competence of the nurses, as well as the scientific knowledge that they have on this procedures in a Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit and analyze if there are discrepancies between the practice competence and scientific knowledge. This descriptive study, performed in 34 nurses, analyzed the performance of tracheal suctioning by direct observation, using the data collection of a structured grid that included 19 aspects to evaluate, grouped into 6 categories. In the same way, knowledge on the procedure was analyzed, using a 19-item self-administered questionnaire, also grouped into 6 categories, which evaluated the same aspects observed. The total mean score obtained in the practice observation grid (P) was 12.09 for a maximum score of 19, while it was 14.24 in the knowledge questionnaire (Q). When analyzed by categories, discrepancies were obtained in the following aspects: in the need for hand washing prior to suctioning (P = 55.9%; Q = 97.1%), in cleaning of the suction catheter after each suctioning during the procedure (P = 0%; Q = 38.2%), in the correct performance of hyperoxygenation and hyperinsuflation, before, during and after the procedure (P = 11.8%; Q = 941%), in the correct selection of the size suction catheter in relationship with endotracheal tubes internal lumen (P = 0%; Q = 52.9%), in the maximum time the catheter remains in the trachea (P = 100%; Q = 23.5%), in the maximum number of times that the catheter should be introduced in each suctioning (P = 100%; Q = 73.5%) and in the non-instillation of saline solution (P = 29.4%; Q = 58.8%). When the total scores obtained were compared, both in practice and knowledge, with the years of experience in ICU, no statistically significant differences were found. It is concluded that the study nurses have scientific knowledge of the suctioning procedure that are better than their practice competence. Discrepancies between practice and knowledge were also found in several of the aspects evaluated, which orients towards the specific needs of training in this procedure.

Objective: To discuss the assortment method of security and to find out measures in order to avoid the asphyxia death owing to obstruction and collapse of canal after tracheotomy., Method: During the period from June 1998 to September 2003, 346 patients were operated the tracheotomy for different reasons. Then they were assorted according to the causes if there was an obstruction in superior airway, the patients' mental health, age and the capacity of saving themselves. We divided them into three kinds, which were security, dangerousness (temporalily or permanently) and relative dangerousness. The corresponding methods of operation therapy and nursing care had been proposed., Result: One hundred and sixty cases were the secure kind; 17 cases the dangerous kind (12 cases permanently, 5 cases temporalily), 169 cases the relatively dangerous kind. After adopting corresponding method of operation and nursing cars, the asphyxia death due to obstruction or collapse of canal didnt happen., Conclusion: The security assortment has significance after tracheotomy for reducing the asphyxia death rate.

Multispecialty inpatient units are the norm in today's acute care settings. Since few units have the luxury of seasoned otorhinolaryngology (ORL) nurses, care of the postoperative patient with a tracheotomy, including discharge teaching and planning are left to the generalists. Generalist nurses and new ORL nurses may find themselves experiencing fear and anxiety along with the tracheotomy patients they care for and teach. Experienced ORL nurses are continually challenged to find ways to share their expertise with patients and less experienced nurses in effective ways. This article presents a unique approach to preparing nurses to teach self-tracheotomy care to their patients. Medical-surgical staff nurses attended a 90-minute inservice program presenting actual clinical scenarios of temporarily learning-impaired patients with tracheotomies, and were asked to role play effective interventions. The program content is designed to address the reluctance of inexperienced, busy nurses to confront learning barriers and motivate patients to accomplish early postoperative involvement in tracheotomy self care. The widespread nature of the challenges faced by nurses and patients regarding tracheotomy care has been confirmed by discussions with colleagues on a national level. It has been confirmed further by the first author's clinical experiences in a wide variety of health care settings. Recommended nursing actions and responses to learning barriers presented here are based on expert opinion and clinical experience.

In 1994, neuroscience nurses and neurosurgeons at St. Boniface General Hospital and the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg completed a study on tracheostomy weaning. This collaborative effort was initiated in response to a perceived clinical need--weaning difficulties in our neurological and neurosurgical patients--and was the first step along the road to implementing a standardized weaning procedure.

Discharge planning for a child undergoing a tracheotomy is a complex process. In 1989, a multidisciplinary team at Children's Hospital of Michigan developed specific discharge criteria in a checklist format to address all facets of home care for these patients. We present and discuss the checklist. A survey of user satisfaction with the checklist demonstrated that 80% of parents and care-givers felt well-prepared by this format at the time their child was discharged from the hospital with a new tracheotomy. We conclude that the protocol allows for comprehensive and efficient discharge teaching of parents and care-givers for children with new tracheotomies.

Practical aspects of caring for a patient's tracheal stoma at home are reviewed, based on our experience with 1,000 head and neck cancer and/or laryngotracheal stenosis patients treated at a large, multidisciplinary medical center. Successful management depends on understanding the various types of stomas and relating basic principles of hygiene to the fundamental concepts of wound healing and inflammation. There is no standard formula. Each case requires individual attention and planning.

As home care tracheotomy has become a viable option for children with long-term canulation, medical personnel are challenged to provide as safe an environment as possible out of the hospital for these children. The tools used in the training of the families and other caregivers have received little attention in the literature. This study describes the development of a home-care tracheotomy manual for parents. The use of appropriate content presented in an organized, informative and pleasing fashion at the appropriate reading level is stressed. The evaluation of the manual by parents with children who have a child with a tracheotomy is also described.

The management of medically fragile children with tracheotomies can be challenging to the pediatrician. This management includes the well child care for these children as well as coordination of the often complex care associated with the underlying condition. Various diseases exist that cause airway obstruction, respiratory failure, or chronic aspiration, necessitating tracheotomies. Tracheotomies require astute observation and skilled care to minimize complications.

Infants and children who manifest respiratory distress secondary to congenital or acquired abnormalities of the airway pose a unique problem that frequently requires a tracheotomy to control the patient's airway. These tracheotomies often are required for extended periods of time. Skilled care and astute observation are essential for the care of these patients while in hospital and at home. Although many of the care concerns relate to nursing and social issues, the otolaryngologist must maintain an active role in the medical management and co-ordination of discharge. This paper provides the otolaryngologist with an outline of the hospital care required for the pediatric tracheotomy patient. Additionally, it offers the otolaryngologist a model program for discharge planning and follow-up for the pediatric tracheotomy patient in the community.

The purpose of this research study was to determine whether the clean technique of tracheotomy care is the same, or more, secure from the aseptic, by testing the difference in the level of postoperative pulmonary infection between tracheotomized patients receiving aseptic and those receiving clean tracheotomy care. The sample consisted of 103 patients with tracheotomy (transient or permanent) from ENT or IC units of four big hospitals of Athens. The level of the patient's pulmonary infection was defined using the Weighted Level of Pulmonary Infection Tool, which was constructed especially for this research study. The data were analysed using the x2 statistical test, and the coefficients phi, Cramer's V and Kendall's, while, with the same statistics, the relationship between certain important external variables and the dependent variable was examined. The findings indicated that no statistically significant difference exists between clean and aseptic technique as to the level of pulmonary infection when used for tracheotomy postoperative care of tracheotomized patients.

Private duty nursing at home for families with a tracheotomized child is important. Home care nurses can assure that the child is cared for safely and allow the family both training and respite service when it is needed.

Tracheotomy in children has two main fields of indication: 1) obstructions of the upper respiratory tract, the main cause being today the post-intubation stenosis; 2) long term mechanical ventilation. When performed in good conditions, with adapted care, there are few complications, among them the accidental denaculation being the most worrying. When long-term tracheotomy is needed, parent-education, together with special equipment and adapted environment may allow the return of the tracheotomised child at home in secure conditions. Special attention with preventive measures during intubation is recommended in order to reduce the number of tracheotomies for post-intubation stenosis.

Nursing management of the patient undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction is not well described in the literature. Over the last 25 years, nurses in the respiratory surgical intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have cared for more than 600 patients who have undergone this procedure. Using a diagnostic format, we have developed a plan of care for this patient population. In this article, the etiology of tracheal obstruction, its diagnosis and surgical correction, and nursing care of the patient after tracheal resection and reconstruction are presented.

Children with tracheotomy tubes are frequently cared for by nurses in critical care settings, as well as on general patient care units. These children require tracheotomies for a variety of reasons and often are ready to be discharged before they are ready to be decannulated. As a result, many children are cared for at home by their parents, other family members, or other care givers. Discharging a child home with a tracheotomy is a process that involves many people. The staff nurse plays a valuable role in providing education and support to the child and family. After discharge, otolaryngology nurse-clinicians provide some of the support and continuing education the families may need, while parents and school personnel assist the families with support in normalizing their lives and meeting the developmental needs of the child.

The patient who undergoes head and neck surgery requires intense nursing management for successful recovery and rehabilitation. Although several authors have presented a nursing diagnosis format care plan, none is as extensive as the one presented here. It is hoped that the preceding nursing care plan will be helpful to nurses in their management of the patient undergoing head and neck surgery.