Trach Care Kits

[OrionQuiltsRN]

When I open a trach care kit, I do not know what to do with the pipe cleaners. Everything else is self-explanatory, but I have no clue why I need 4 pipe cleaners. Tell me what they are used for, please.

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

Basically they help clean the inner cannula. You don't want something that will come apart like a cotton swab. These scrub and will get into the hard to reach places.

[RNAnnjeh, MSN, CNS]

The pipe cleaners really grab the "gunk" that gets stuck to the inner cannula, or in the case of peds, the entire tube. They are small and flexible enough to slide through, and as aknottedyarn pointed out, don't leave residue.

You can actually give a trach tube a good scrubbing with a pipe cleaner, which is probably why there are 4 in there. You don't have to use them all, but make sure that tube is clean!

[OrionQuiltsRN]

Just seems odd because the kits I open have a brush with the nylon bristles and wire handle that I guess was also for cleaning the inner canula. Were the pipe cleaners used in the earlier days before this other brush came along? And the manufacturer left them in the kit even after they began supplying the new brush? So I guess you have both to choose from depending on how you were trained.

Kim

[CarVsTree]

Many times the brush is not sufficient; the pipe cleaners really help to get the gunk out. Not much else to say.

[lovingmyabcs]

I like to make mine shine with the pipe cleaners :)

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I find that the brush is more than sufficient to clean the cannula, the pipe cleaners help dry it when you're done cleaning and rinsing. :)

[RazorbackRN, BSN, RN]

Gosh, I love trach care! I know, that's gross, but I really love getting that cannula clean!

The brush is primarily used for the outside of the inner cannula and around the lock hub. The pipe cleaners are for inside the cannula.