How to Provide Nursing Care for Tracheostomy Tubes

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March 2025

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education video, we demonstrate appropriate nursing care for patients with a tracheostomy tube… after all, these patients require constant monitoring (including 24/7 care) and can undergo life-threatening complications if their tube is occluded. If you’re an emergency or critical care veterinary technician, intern or ECC resident, you must feel comfortable knowing how to provide appropriate nursing care for patients with tracheostomy tubes. Know that there are several different types and sizes of tracheotomy tubes (including different materials, single versus double cannula-type, cuffed versus uncuffed, etc.), so you’ll have to make sure to chose the appropriate care for the appropriate sized tube. (Check out the resource below for some great information). When in doubt, you’ll have to care for these patients every 2-4-6 hours, making sure to carefully monitor and clean the stoma site, clean the cannula (if applicable), monitor and deflate the cuff (if applicable), nebulize and coupage (for humidification), and suction these patients appropriately. Always keep in mind that placement of a tracheostomy tube bypasses the normal defense mechanisms of the upper airway, so it’s imperative that sterile technique be used at all times to prevent an iatrogenic (e.g., you caused it!) secondary infection.

VETgirl’s tip? Always make sure to have an appropriately-sized, sterile, endotracheal tube taped to the cage door, several sized sterile glove options, a working laryngoscope (with a light and appropriate sized blade), oxygen flow by, 3% hydrogen peroxide or 2% chlorhexidine scrub (diluted 1:1 with sterile water) near by in case of emergency!

Thanks to the amazing staff at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists for their help with this video!

Want to learn more? Check out Dr. Ralphs’ How to Perform a Tracheostomy HERE to learn more!

Resources:
Sierra LK. Managing Patients with Temporary Tracheostomy Tubes. Today’s Veterinary Practice.

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