Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Tracheostomy Tube and Stoma

You have had surgery to create an opening through your neck and into your trachea (windpipe). A cannula (tube) was inserted into the opening to allow you to breathe. You need to take care of your tracheostomy (“trach”) tube, your stoma (the opening in your neck), and the skin around the stoma once you leave the hospital. Your health care team will teach you how to do this. The guidelines below will also help.

Cleaning Your Trach Tube and Stoma

Clean your tube and the skin around it at least once a day, or more often if instructed by your doctor. Follow these steps and any other guidelines you have been given. Choose a clean, well-lighted space near a sink and mirror.

Step 1

• Collect the following supplies:

  • Gauze pads or other non-fraying material advised by your doctor

  • Cotton swabs

  • Trach tube brush

  • Bowl filled with the type of solution recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may recommend normal saline solution or a mixture of equal parts normal saline and hydrogen peroxide.

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Put on clean, disposable, powderless gloves.

Step 2

• Remove the inner cannula (tube).

  • Hold the neck plate with one hand. With the other hand, unlock the inner cannula. Gently remove the inner cannula.

  • If you have trouble removing the inner cannula, do not force it. Call your doctor for further instruction.

  • Don’t remove the outer cannula (tube).

Step 3

• Clean the inner cannula (for reusable cannulas only)

  • Soak the reusable inner cannula in the bowl of solution.

  • Disposable inner cannulas do not need to be cleaned as they are meant for one time use. If you have a metal inner cannula do not use hydrogen peroxide, as it can cause damage to the cannula. Use only normal saline in this case.

  • Clean the inner cannula with a trach tube brush. Don’t use a toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly with plain normal saline solution.

  • Put the wet inner cannula back into the outer cannula. Lock the inner cannula in place.

Step 4

• Clean the neck plate and skin.

  • Remove the gauze from behind the neck plate. Check the area for signs of skin breakdown or infection.

  • Clean the neck plate and the skin under it. Use clean gauze pads or or other non-fraying material dabbed in normal saline solution. A thorough cleaning technique you may consider involves cleaning the stoma in a step-wise fashion, one quarter at a time. This pattern can also be followed on the surrounding skin and tube flange.

    • Use a new gauze pad for each section.

    • Start at the 12 o'clock position and wipe to the 3 o'clock position

    • Next, clean from 12 o'clock to 9 o'clock

    • Next, clean the 3 o'clock to 6 o'clock position.

    • Lastly, clean from the 9 o'clock to 6 o'clock position.

    • Gently pat the skin dry.

  • Don't use a hydrogen peroxide mixture directly on your skin unless your doctor specifically tells you to do so. Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin and increase the risk for infection. If you are instructed to use a hydrogen peroxide mixture on your skin, be sure to rinse the area with normal saline afterward.

  • Put a clean, precut gauze pad under the neck plate. This pad protects your skin. Do not cut a gauze pad because the frayed edges will increase risk for infection and a loose thread could potentially be inhaled into the trach.

Step 5

• The neck plate is held in place with cloth or Velcro ties. If these become soiled, they should be changed. You will need another person to help you change the ties to make sure the neck plate does not get displaced.

• Your helper should first wash his or her hands, then put on a pair of clean, disposable, powderless gloves.

• Have a clean set of ties ready to be attached to the neck plate.

• While one of you holds the neck plate in place, the other person loosens the ties on the neck place and removes them. Discard the soiled ties with the rest of the used cleaning supplies.

• While the neck plate is still being held in place, attach the clean trach ties to the neck plate and secure them. Make sure the ties are snug enough to keep the neck plate from moving too much, yet loose enough to be comfortable. You should be able to comfortably insert one finger between the trach tie and the skin.

If Your Trach Tube Becomes Plugged

To apply suction, cover the suction valve. Uncover the suction valve to stop the suction.

It is normal to have some mucus in your airway, but mucus can build up and thicken. If this happens, your trach tube can become plugged. Follow these steps and any other guidelines you have been given to clear your trach tube.

• Find a clean, well-lighted space near a sink and mirror.

• Collect the following supplies:

  • Suction machine

  • Clean suction catheter (tube). Your doctor will instruct you on which type of catheter and suction process is appropriate for your trach tube.

  • Small bowl of normal saline solution

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Then put on clean, disposable, powderless gloves.

• Prepare to suction:

  • Turn on the suction machine to _____ mm Hg. (Use the setting you were given by your health care provider.)

  • Attach the suction catheter to the suction machine. Ensure the suction is working by first suctioning normal saline from the bowl.

• Insert the catheter into your trach tube:

  • Take a few deep breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen.

  • Gently insert the catheter into your trach tube. While you are inserting the catheter, don’t suction. Stop inserting the catheter when you start to cough.

• Suction:

  • Apply suction. At the same time, slowly pull the catheter out of your trach tube. Move the catheter tip in a circle as you pull the catheter out.

  • Take 5 to 10 seconds to remove the catheter completely from your trach tube. If you need to suction more, relax and breathe for a 30 seconds to a few minutes before you start again.

  • Before suctioning again, rinse the catheter with normal saline.

  • It is typically recommended to limit each suctioning session to a maximum of three passes.

• When you are finished, turn off the suction machine. Discard the used catheter, water, and gloves.

Follow-Up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.