Home Care for a Patient with a Tracheostomy

Daily Patient Assessment

The patient should be checked every day for the following:

  • Breathing — whether there is shortness of breath, wheezing, or mucus buildup
  • Tracheostomy area — redness, swelling, or discharge
  • Temperature — high temperature may indicate infection
  • Mucus — amount, color, and thickness

Hygiene of the Tracheostomy Site

Daily care is very important for infection prevention.

Steps:

  1. Wash your hands and put on gloves.
  2. Remove the old dressing or bandage.
  3. Clean the skin around the tracheostomy with a sterile solution, such as:
    • Saline solution
    • Chlorhexidine 0.05%
  4. Dry the area thoroughly.
  5. Apply a new, clean tracheostomy dressing.

Important: Do not use cotton pads or cotton swabs, as fibers may enter the tube.

Inner Cannula Care

If the patient has a removable inner cannula, it must be cleaned regularly.

Cleaning Procedure:

  1. Remove the inner cannula.
  2. Soak it in warm saline solution.
  3. Clean the inside with a special brush.
  4. Rinse it well and dry it thoroughly.

Frequency: 1–2 times per day or as needed.

Mucus Aspiration / Suctioning

Suctioning is one of the most important parts of tracheostomy care.

When Suctioning Is Needed:

  • When the patient cannot cough up mucus
  • When breathing becomes noisy or wheezing is heard
  • When mucus is visible inside the tube
  • When oxygen saturation drops

How Suctioning Is Performed:

  1. Prepare the suction machine and catheter.
  2. Give the patient 100% oxygen for 30–60 seconds, if an oxygen source is available.
  3. Using sterile gloves, insert the catheter into the tube until resistance is felt.
  4. Apply suction for 5–10 seconds while slowly withdrawing the catheter.
  5. Observe the patient’s condition during and after the procedure.

Normal Mucus:

Clear or slightly yellow mucus is usually considered normal.

Warning Signs:

Green, very thick, or bloody mucus may indicate a problem. In such cases, contact a doctor immediately.