Melbourne Strapping Technique for ETTs

Specialties Emergency

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Hi there,

Can anyone tell me about the Melbourne ETT Strapping technique?

Or point me in the direction of a good online resource, as I can't find anything on it and I know it is still used.

Thanks

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Safe transfer and retrieval: the ... - Google Books

There you go.

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

Wow, is this used for long term intubation, such as when you know the patient is going to the unit on a vent?

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I haven't seen that for about 30 years or so and nasal intubations have been extremely rare (usually just facial surgeries from OR) here for the past 20 years. Any nasal tubes from EMS will also be changed to oral as quickly as possible.

We do not place ETT tape over the nose due to the risk of skin break down. If we do get a nasal tube in either an adult or a child, we will go over the ears and around the head. The same for the toothless adults. This method of taping is very useful in the ED, trauma or ICUs where a central line is being established quickly in the neck. It keeps the central line site cleaner with the tape being out of the way.

Sometimes duoderm is used but uaually we try to prevent skin break down with some type of skin prep or No Sting Barrier.

The trouser leg is a common taping method with the split as close to the tube as possible on the upper lip. The upper legs will be on the lip and the lower legs will wrap around the tube. And, then there are some who like to cross the legs which forums a neat tear drop style if they are masters of tape.

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Thanks very much for the reply, what a great website this is! I have recently changed jobs to a DGH (from a Trauma centre) and they are still using this method that I wasn't familiar with, what a lot of tape!!

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When you feel like making suggestions to whoever does the taping and purchasing, here are various types of commercial tube holders. The top one is for nasal tubes and it does stick very, very well. Cost is not that much espeically when you consider the issues with skin breakdown.

http://mercurymed.com/catalogs/RDR_TrachTubes_Accessories.pdf?phpMyAdmin=8bad005e4170814880e9a1aebf2262f1

This website on page 13 shows the over(not covering or on) the ear method which I had mentioned that works great for patients without teeth, who have central lines and who are nasally intubated.

http://orlandohealth.com/MediaBank/Docs/SLP/9-17-10/AdultMVfinal.pdf

However, the rest of the information is a little outdated but might be good for some to stroll down memory lane with the Bird Mark 7, MA2+2, Servo 900 and Bear 1000. The date on the packet says 2010 but those ventilators and some of their basic principes along with the modes are from the early 1980s to 1990. But, the terminology section is excellent.

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