Assessment of healthcare professionals’ knowledge of managing emergency complications in patients with a tracheostomy

Abstract

Knowledge of tracheostomy-related emergencies appears to be insufficient among non-ENT healthcare professionals. This needs to be addressed in order to maximize patient safety.

Patient safety incidents associated with tracheostomies occurring in hospital wards: a review of reports to the UK National Patient Safety Agency

“…A simple solution is to provide a box of appropriate airway equipment to accompany the patient until decannulation of the tracheostomy 11 12. Early identification of tracheostomy patients transferred from critical care would allow the provision of equipment to be checked in advance.…”

Improving knowledge, technical skills, and confidence among pediatric health care providers in the management of chronic tracheostomy using a simulation model

“…These deficiencies in education lower the practitioners’ levels of confidence and decrease their ability to effectively care for children with tracheostomies. A survey of physicians working in community emergency rooms with training in internal medicine, family practice, surgery, general practice, pediatrics, and emergency medicine found that 25% were highly uncomfortable performing life‐saving pediatric procedures including tracheostomy tube replacement . Two studies have shown that there is an increase in mortality associated with transferring patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) to non‐critical care hospital units with a tracheostomy tube in place due to sub‐optimal tracheostomy care outside of the ICU setting …”

Effectiveness of a standardized education process for tracheostomy care

“…The placement of a tracheostomy tube is increasingly performed in hospitals and intensive care units (ICU), with typical indications including upper airway obstruction, prolonged endotracheal intubation, and need for aggressive pulmonary toilet . As many as one‐third of patients in ICUs will require a tracheostomy tube for long‐term ventilation . Currently, there are an estimated 6.5 million people in the United States living with a tracheostomy .…”