Nursing matters after tracheotomy for laryngeal cancer

Surgery is the main method for treating laryngeal cancer. Patients generally need to undergo tracheotomy. To avoid infection and other diseases, postoperative care for patients should be strengthened to promote their rapid recovery.

1. Basic care

Patients are weak after surgery and have reduced resistance. Long-term fasting can easily lead to the growth of bacteria in the mouth. To avoid oral infection, the patient's mouth must be kept clean. Patients can be asked to rinse their mouths with light salt water every day and brush their teeth on time every morning and evening. Family members should learn to turn the patient over and pat his back, teach the patient to cough up phlegm effectively and encourage the patient to expectorate on his own, and try to avoid mechanical suction to avoid damage to the tracheal mucosa.

2. Principles of mechanical suction

If the patient is seriously ill and cannot cough and expectorate on his own, mechanical suction can be used, but the aseptic operation principle must be strictly followed, and the negative pressure should not be too high to avoid damaging the oral mucosa. Choose a suction tube suitable for the patient. Generally, the diameter of the suction tube should be less than 1/2 of the diameter of the endotracheal tube. To avoid infection, the order of suctioning should be mastered: first clean the sputum in the trachea, then clean the secretions in the mouth, pharynx, and nasal cavity.

3. Disinfection of wards

After tracheotomy, patients should also pay attention to keeping the recuperation environment clean. The ward is usually disinfected with an air purifier every day, and the indoor temperature is maintained at 20-22°C and the humidity is 60%-70%. After disinfection, visits from family members and friends should be reduced as much as possible to avoid cross infection and respiratory infection.

4. Tracheotomy Care

The dressing at the patient's tracheotomy should be changed on time every day, and the tube should be carefully prevented from falling off during dressing changes. For this reason, family members should pay more attention to observation, including whether there are any infection, bleeding, subcutaneous emphysema, etc. Once discovered, a doctor should promptly treat it.