food in trach secretion

[Ms.RN]

what do you do if you are suctinging trach and there are food particles in it?

[TexasPediRN]

what do you do if you are suctinging trach and there are food particles in it?

Your patient is aspirating food, which is why you are getting food particles during suctioning. You need to stop feeding the pt immediately. On that note, the MD should be notified and a swallow study needs to be performed. If the person has a feeding tube, they should get nutrition strictly though the feeding tube until a swallow study can be performed. You should not give the patient anything to eat/drink as they will aspirate and can get pneumonia.

Hope that helped, and if you have other questions re: trachs just post them!

-Meghan

[Ms.RN]

Yes, it helped alot. But do you also inflate the cuff to prevent more aspiration? or just make patient NPO?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

yes, the trach cuff should not be deflated without being first suctioning or being prepared to suction out secretions and possible food particles. otherwise, the cuff should be kept inflated to prevent aspirated food from sliding down into the respiratory track when the cuff is deflated. keep the head of the bed elevated and hold feedings until you have notified the doctor and gotten further orders from the doctor regarding the patient's eating status. assess the patient's lung sounds and get a baseline set of vital signs.