Here's a nurse's perspective....IMHO, suctioning should always be
done sterile as Jim has described. Unfortunately some clients do not
have a large enough supply of suction catheters to allow a new catheter
for each suctioning. The catheters have to be reused. I don't agree with
that practice but have had to comply.
We talked to our supply company, instead of getting suction kits (which include a catheter, 2 gloves & a box to put saline) we get individual catheters and sterile gloves (2 per package, just unfold 1 and save the other one for next time). It turns out to be a lot cheaper than the kits. We don't use saline to flush the catheter between suctioning, which has worked fine. When secretions are thinker than normal they we use a 3cc saline "fish". On average I need to be suctioned 5 to 7 times in a 24hr period.
Regarding trach changes.... I had the best luck with frequent
changes, typically once a week. Frankly, it surprises me that some of
you are able to go for long periods of time without a change.
Since my RT was here to do a vent check and this topic had come up, I asked her how often do most people change their trach? She said usually 6 weeks or sooner if they have infections. When I told her I change mine every 3 month, she first had a shocked look on her face then said, "since you haven't had infections, which is unusual, keep doing what you are doing. "
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
