Fw: [VENT-L] trach changes

[Kathy Clayton]

----- Original Message ----- From: Kathy Clayton To: SSmith Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 9:32 PM Subject: Re: [VENT-L] trach changes My son had a similar problem.  The ENT called it an offset because his trache didn't go directly in.  It had to be  maneuvered a certain way.  It was caused by him having a size smaller trache in due to an emergency trache change and the case mgr told his nurse to wait from Monday to Saturday as she had another nurse she wanted to show how to do it.  The doctor wasn't called and I didn't know any better 'cause he had only his trache a couple of months.  So when they came to change it, it wouldn't go in and then they couldn't get it in or the next smaller size so he ended up in the ER and the doc tried to force it in and couldn't and finally they took him and gave him some anesthetic so he was awake and did something to get it in.  That later cost him another surgery to repair the site but he has had little to no bleeding since and later on he went from a cuffed to a cuffless trache and has no bleeding at all with that.  I wish I would have reported that   case mgr for all the problems she caused him.  Not to mention the additional cost to the insurance company.   Kathy in Iowa ----- Original Message ----- From: SSmith To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 9:14 PM Subject: Re: [VENT-L] trach changes Hi Alan.........my hubby had problems with bleeding especially at the trach changes.  He had excessive granulation that was causing the irritation.  He eventually had a surgery called a "trach revision" in which the stoma (opening into the trachea) is made permanent.  It took him about a week to be able to eat and swallow normally, but it was worth it!  Voila!  no more bleeding or granulation.  Any ENT dr can tell you about this, although an ENT surgeon may have to be the one to actually do it.  May be this is an option to consider?  We also use the PMSV.  What a wonderous invention!   S in MS   ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 12:08 PM Subject: Re: [VENT-L] trach changes     I haven't changed my trach since November 2003. I first got my trach in May 2003 and it has been bleeding ever since, despite round after round of antibiotics. Even after the trach change it continues to bleed. I guess bleeding everyday has become a part of my daily life.  I leave my cuff down 24/7 so I can talk (using a passe muir speakng valve) and call for help if needed (I'm a C3 quadriplegic).  One good thing going for me though, is that I'm able to clear my lungs and throat enough to avoid daily suctioning.                                                                 Alan Lee                                                             [EMAIL PROTECTED]   --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.727 / Virus Database: 482 - Release Date: 7/26/2004