hiw do you know when a trach tube is too small?

[smartnurse1982]

I have looked everywhere but cannot find anything. In children how do you know when its too small and they are outgrowing it? Does the secretions start comming up through the nose and mouth instead of the trach? Do they start making noises through arounf

[nessa_5555]

In my experience, when the trach is too small, the secretions tend to not be able to make it through the trach. Like you can hear that they need to be suctioned, but upon suctioning, you are getting no results. Respiration rate tends to be higher as well. If all else fails, write to the ENT doctor and ask his opinion about it.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

check out aaron's tracheostomy page