Keep breathing unobstructed after laryngeal cancer surgery

Tracheotomy is an operation performed to maintain the patient's airway open. Careful care is still required after laryngeal cancer surgery to keep the patient breathing smoothly.

Preventing infection

Patients are weak and have reduced resistance after surgery. In addition, the amount of sputum in the respiratory tract increases after surgery, which can easily cause lung infection. Therefore, every family member should keep the room ventilated and the air fresh, and reduce the number of visitors to reduce the density of bacteria in the air and reduce the chance of infection.

Observe sputum

After laryngeal cancer surgery, patients or their families should frequently and carefully observe changes in the amount, texture, and color of respiratory secretions and sputum. Family members should pay attention to whether there is bleeding or dry scabs around the tracheal incision to avoid blocking the airway and causing suffocation.

Suctioning correctly

After surgery, patients with laryngeal cancer will have increased respiratory secretions. Because of the pain, they will actively suppress their coughs. The amount of sputum in the respiratory tract gradually increases and cannot be coughed out automatically. If the sputum is not suctioned in time, it may cause tracheal obstruction and lead to breathing difficulties. Patients should be given effective and correct sputum suction. Clearing lower respiratory tract secretions is the key to good tracheal care.

Practice coughing

On the first day after surgery, if the patient's condition is stable and his mental state is good, he can be encouraged to cough on his own. Family members can help the patient to slowly turn over twice and tap his back once, using the palm in a bow shape of 150° to tap the back evenly from bottom to top. This can be done 3 to 4 times a day. The patient should be encouraged to do more breathing exercises to loosen and fall off the phlegm attached to the trachea and bronchi around the lungs so that it can be coughed out on its own.