Pediatric Tracheostomy Questions

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Have a few questions for you experienced pediatric nurses out there. At approximately which age are the trachs cuffed? Do most pediatric patients have trachs without inner cannulas? Any precautions you would like to share about suctioning pediatric trachs? Thanks!

[suzanne4, RN]

Pediatric trachs are not even manufactured with cuffs. I have never seen a pediatric trach with an inner cannula either.

You must hyperoxygenate the patient first, always, always, always.

I prefer to always instill normal saline first, then bag the child for a couple of minutes, then suction. This has always worked the best for me. The little pink saline unit doses are the best.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Thank you so much! :balloons:

[Dixiedi]

Pediatric trachs are not even manufactured with cuffs. I have never seen a pediatric trach with an inner cannula either.

You must hyperoxygenate the patient first, always, always, always.

I prefer to always instill normal saline first, then bag the child for a couple of minutes, then suction. This has always worked the best for me. The little pink saline unit doses are the best.

You can get the Shiley Pediatric 4 cuffed. I have a pt on the 4.5 uncuffed and they recently changed her to the 4 cuffed. I reallyl don't know about smaller ones. This is the ONLY pedi trach I have ever seen cuffed.

I have never seen one with an inner canula either.

[suzanne4, RN]

#4 is the smallest that is made with a cuff.

00,1,2,3 do not have cuffs.