The critical care nurse is precepting a new nurse on the unit. Together they are caring for a patient who has a tracheostomy tube and is undergoing mechanical ventilation
The critical care nurse explains that to help prevent tracheal dilation, a complication of tracheostomy tube placement, the nurse should
A) suction the tracheostomy tube frequently.
B) use a cuffed tracheostomy tube.
C) use the minimal air leak technique with cuff pressure less than 25 cm H2O.
D) keep the tracheostomy tube plugged.
Ans: C
Feedback: To prevent tracheal dilation, a minimal-leak technique should be used and the pressure should be kept at less than 25 cm H2O. Suctioning is vital but will not prevent tracheal dilation. Use of a cuffed tube alone will not prevent tracheal dilation. The tracheostomy should not be plugged to prevent tracheal dilation. This technique is used when weaning the patient from tracheal support.
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