Question about Trachs

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Have any of you ever heard of washing a trach and re-using it? I always thought trachs were a single use. To be more specific I'm talking about the Peds Shiley trachs... I'm wondering what everyones input on this is... I had NEVER heard of washing and reusing a trach... what about you guys?

Papaw, I learned to use those trach care kits upon graduation...and I graduated 5 short years ago. I guess thats what working in the state hospital was all about. :chuckle

I just moved here to Maryland and started work at a large nursing home and we have a resident on my floor with a metal trach....I had been taught in school all about using sterile technique while doing trach care but we do her trach care every shift and we use anything but sterile technique. We take the inner cannula out and wash it under the water in the sink with a brush and put it back in. And I work the night shift so I get the pleasure of changing out her collar around the trach every 3 days also. Its definitely not enjoyable.

hi, all. yep, often changed/cleaned an inner cannula. long-term home care patient, back about 16 years ago. peroxide/saline/pipe cleaners...whole 10 yards. :p still remember the routine.....

suebird

Specializes in pediatric ER.

Hi everyone! I actually know a PNP that has a metal trach and uses silver polish on it! (She cleans it daily with a trach kit as well!) People are always asking about her "necklace". She's been asked if it's a camera, or even a bottle opener!!! Anyways, just thought that was funny and thought I'd share!

-Analee

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I remember having to do trach care with the plastic inner cannulas. Washing with peroxide was part of trach care. Yes, sterile technique. Just be careful those things are slippery as all get out with gloves on and when wet. I lost one one night,, stupid thing slipped right out of my fingers and shot half way across the room. We had the metal ones come to the floor also, but we havent had a new trach for quit a few years.

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

Aint our job glamouous?:no:

Specializes in Pediatrics Only.
Thanks for the info. I wasn't to sure about a few things.:)

Thats what we're here for :) Good luck with everything :)

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Aint our job glamouous?

Nothing like being elbow deep in sputum :rotfl: I gotta laugh when I read some of the posts of the pre-nursing people who wonder how you deal with the blood and guts. I've gotten hockers on my uniform when a patient with a trach had to cough and I was in the line of fire. Yuck! :cry:

Man, I feel so nostalgic for the little section of the 'trache care kit' that you poured the peroxide and saline into (swimming with strange slime) after the bottle-brush---anyone but old nurses remember bottle brushes?---scrubbed out the re-usable inner-cannula. Ahhh yes, those were the days.

Yup! Remember it well. Spilled a few of those little tubs too.

I actually know a PNP that has a metal trach and uses silver polish on it!

Also wanted to say that we had a pulmonologist who had us clean the Jackson's with silver polish. I remember asking him why at the time, but can't remember his answer.

Specializes in Peds stepdown ICU.
Have any of you ever heard of washing a trach and re-using it? I always thought trachs were a single use. To be more specific I'm talking about the Peds Shiley trachs... I'm wondering what everyones input on this is... I had NEVER heard of washing and reusing a trach... what about you guys?

In homecare we always reused them. They are very expensive and medicaid only gives the patient one a month. If the patient is plugging a lot, you need more than one change! We followed the instructions on the package for cleaning. I haven't seen an inner cannula on peds trachs.

Missy

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

there are several types of tracheostomy tubes. some plastic tubes have disposable inner cannula others have reusable inner cannula that one removes q shift and cleans by soaking in 1/2 streength peroxide (h2o2), using mini bottle brush or pipe cleaners to remove mucous, rinse in sterile water.

metal jacskon trach is for clients with long term trach.

great resources:

tracheostomy: postoperative recovery

caring for the patient with a tracheostomy pictures start on pg 37

tracheostomy it explains the types of tracheostomy tube, how to look after the ... published 2000 by the joanna briggs institute for evidence based nursing and midwifery ...

omni.ac.uk/browse/mesh/d014139.html

tracheostomy care.

**** peds: aaron's tracheostomy page

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We have reused where I work too....sometimes the orders get backed up and I sure wouldn't want to be without a spare! The custom ones we clean and keep in a specimen cup and taped to the bed. God help you if you lose one of those!

I remember those little kits...I wore the wash on my feet more than once LOL

Specializes in NICU.
The custom ones we clean and keep in a specimen cup and taped to the bed. God help you if you lose one of those!

Same here. We use Neo Shileys and change them once a week, or PRN if there is a plug. We usually have one in the baby, a clean one in the specimen cup taped to the crib, and 1 brand new one still in the box somewhere at the bedside. We also have a 3.0 in each of the crash carts, because you never know!!!

We clean them with 1/2 strength hydrogen peroxide and let them dry thoroghly before putting them into a sterile specimen cup for the next time. The collars we change 1-2 times a day and PRN.

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