Re: [VENT-L] trach changes

[Jim Lubin]

I just had my trach changed this morning. My nurse changes my trach every 3 months. I have not had an infection in the 15 years I have had a trach.

I'm insistent that people stay sterile when they suction me.  Use one sterile glove to hold the suction catheter. If that glove or the catheter touches anything outside the trach, stop suctioning and change them. Only use one glove because the other hand is used to take the vent off the trach and to use the ambu bag. When people use 2 gloves it's harder to remember that the one not holding the catheter is no longer sterile. This is the technique we teach to anyone who will be suctioning me. My friends who have no medical training actually tend to be more aware of trying to keep sterile than some of the nurses I've had.

We also never reuse suction catheters.

That's what's worked for me. Hope that might be helpful to those of you who have infections.

Jim

At 12:20 PM 7/28/2004, Mark Boatman wrote:

My trach has been changed every 12 weeks since I got
the trach in 2/03.  I started developing infections
after the 6 week mark so I requested more frequent
changes.  After much arm twisting my doc agreed to
change it every 6 weeks.  But he warned me that
changing the trach more often could bring infections.
If this happens he said the changes would go back to
every 12 weeks.  I just wanted input on this from you
all.

Mark B.

----
Jim Lubin              
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Bothell, WA, USA     
http://makoa.org/jim
disAbility Resources: http://www.makoa.org
Transverse Myelitis Association: http://www.myelitis.org/HowToHelp