Tracheostomy


Diet:
Eat and drink as much as you can. Progress to soft foods as soon as you are able.

Activity:
Avoid lifting over 5 lbs., avoid strenuous exercise. No weight training or exercise class for two weeks after surgery.

Medications:
Discomfort is usually by the pain medication prescribed, follow directions carefully.

Do not take aspirin or products containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (i.e. Advil, Motrin, ibuprofen, etc.) These “thin the blood” and slow clotting of the blood.

Clean the inner cannula twice a day by cleaning the inside with hydrogen peroxide, then rinsing with alcohol and letting dry before re-inserting. You may also rinse with sterile saline.

Follow-up:
Return to the office 10 days after surgery. Call for an appointment.

Work/School:
You may return 2 weeks after surgery.

Information:
Call the doctor for bleeding from the neck, or fever over 100.4 degrees.

Throat pain is normal, and may worsen. This pain will reduce over the first two weeks after surgery.

Leaking of liquids into the windpipe may occur after surgery. If so, avoid thin liquids (i.e. water, juice) and drink thicker liquids. This difficulty swallowing is expected to resolve over the first 4 weeks after surgery.

Ear pain or discomfort is normal, does not signify an ear infection, and will reduce over the first 2 weeks after surgery.

Choking sensation in the throat is normal and will resolve in 3-4 weeks.

Do NOT clean the tracheostomy tube or cover the tube (when coughing) with Kleenex or facial tissues. They can break up into small pieces and be inhaled into the lungs.

Keep the ties that hold in the trach tube TIGHT to avoid the tube sliding in and out.

YOU CANNOT SWIM while you have a tracheostomy.

To shower or bathe, cap the trach tube (if you can breathe with it capped) and proceed with your bath/shower. If the tube cannot be capped, DO NOT GET WATER INTO THE TRACH TUBE.

Suction the tube or cough to clear secretions.