Tracheostomy Management in Adelaide
Tracheostomy management in Adelaide provided by Friendly & Graceful Care Services: Understanding tracheostomy management and its aftercare activities is a way to show support for the well-being of individuals who underwent surgery.
What is a tracheostomy?
Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that involves making an incision in a person’s windpipe or trachea through the front of the neck. Once the incision is made, a curved plastic tube, known as the tracheostomy tube, is inserted through the hole to allow air to flow in the windpipe and help the person breathe.
Depending on its use, a tracheostomy may be temporary to address a short-term problem or permanent to serve as a long-term solution. Tracheostomy is performed as an emergency procedure when no other option is available. It may also be done as a planned procedure to provide permanent breathing assistance to the individual.
Suppose a tracheostomy was conducted to address a short-term problem and is no longer necessary. In that case, your healthcare provider will remove the tracheostomy tube for you to breathe on your own. It may take several weeks for the hole to heal and recover; hence, it is highly recommended that you have access to the best disability support services.
Meanwhile, if the procedure was a long-term solution to specific health conditions, such as throat cancer or severe lung diseases, you may want to explore the possibility of applying for a care plan approved by your doctor and covered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service providers.
Who needs to have a tracheostomy?
The main goal of a tracheostomy is to deliver oxygen to the lungs quickly and safely. Thus, a tracheostomy is needed if you have an obstruction in your upper airway, making it difficult for you to breathe. A tracheostomy is also conducted due to underlying health conditions such as severe pneumonia, anaphylaxis, head, and neck cancer, narrowed windpipe, severe lung disease, among others, surgery, to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation and to reduce risk of pulmonary aspiration.
Tracheostomy aftercare
Tracheostomy is commonly performed in the hospital to ensure that the tube is inserted correctly and functions well. When you are released from the hospital while you still have the tracheostomy tube, you may have to learn how to clean and change it appropriately. However, if the surgery is a temporary solution, you must know how to care for the surgical site or wound.
Doctors advise that careful management is vital after a tracheostomy, especially once the participant leaves the hospital. Nothing to be worried about since the medical staff will guide you and your family on the tracheostomy aftercare before you go home. However, should you need extra help conducting tracheostomy management in Adelaide, there are Australian home care services that are available and willing to assist.
Various things must be done and remembered to avoid the occurrence of infections and the emergence of other problems, and these include:
- Hand hygiene
- incision wound must be cleaned regularly and monitored for unusual secretions or any change in skin conditions.
- airway must stay open to facilitate breathing.
- cleaning, maintaining, and changing the tube as prescribed by the doctor.
- you, your family members, or home care staff must be able to identify and resolve any blockages in the tracheostomy tube quickly.
- emergency procedures must be learned, specifically when there are sudden obstructions in the tube or infection in the incision wound.
- always keeping an emergency tracheostomy near you; and
- presence of medical charts and records to track improvement.
NDIS coverage and benefits
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds various support services, including Tracheostomy Management in Adelaide. If eligible for the NDIS funds, you may enjoy the perks of receiving assistance from staff trained following the NDIS Practice Standards to ensure high-quality service in the comfort of your homes.
If you are an existing participant of the NDIS and want to know more about incorporating Tracheostomy Management services into your care plan, you may contact us.
What FGCS can do for you?
Here at FGCS, we can help you by having our trained professionals manage your tracheostomy in the most careful way possible. We guarantee that our team can address your care support needs and provide you with the relevant and appropriate treatment. All staff of FGCS are more than willing to guide you in every step of your recovery.
Contact us for more information on Tracheostomy Management in Adelaide and other services we can offer.