Question of the Week: What Happens When Mucus Plugs the Trach Tube & You are Not at Home?

Hello. Welcome to another episode of question of the week. This week’s question is:
My father has dysphagia and copd. He doesn't have strength enough to cough up his secretions. Right now he just swallows. The doctor recommends a trach. I am nervous if he is outside the home going on errands if he has a mucus plug what can be done? We have at home suction but what if he is outside the home? Join me this week as I answer that question.
Thank you for sharing some of your concerns with me. Most tracheostomy tubes have an inner cannula. This is part of the tracheostomy tube which can be removed. If your father develops a mucus plug, the inner cannula can be taken out and a new (clean) inner cannula can be inserted. This will get rid of most mucus plugs. For more information about inner cannulas, please see the video "What is a trach tube inner cannula": • What is a Trach Tube I...
Next, there are portable suction machines. These machines can operate on batteries or AC power. My home suction machine is a portable suction machine. I made a video about sucitioning. If you would like more information about suctioning, please see the video: suctioning 101. Essential Info and tips.
• Suctioning 101: Essent...
Lastly, if removing the inner cannula does not clear the mucus plug and suctioning does not clear the mucus plug, the tracheostomy tube can be removed and replaced with a new tracheostomy tube. For information on how to do an emergency tracheostomy tube exchange, please see the video: how to do an emergency tracheostomy tube exchange. • How to Do an EMERGENCY...
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[@zzzoo2]

Great question, and guidance! Also, wonderful to see people care for their elders so much. I don’t know who said it first, but it rings true: “We’re all in this together.”

[@LifewithaVent]

Great insight. Thank you for sharing.

[@cihanbozkir]

I already benefit a lot from your knowledge. However it's not only way you aid me. Seeing your smile and hearing your voice always beautify my day. 🌹

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

[@12nurse]

I'm big fan of you

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for your support.

[@Wheel.valeria]

Great advice! You can also use an ambu bag if you have one. Especially if you don't have a spare trach and suctioning isn't working. I've had to use one a couple of times!

[@LifewithaVent]

Great advice. Thank you for sharing.

[@YelNatSttocS]

Thank you for the knowledge and guidance

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for watching.

[@pagzplay]

But this is really important information that you need to think about all the time because you make mucus plugs all the time and are not able to clear it and need to get it cleared and suction when it happens to stay Breathing on the Vent Circuit and not lose Breathing Support.

[@LifewithaVent]

Yes, that is very true.

[@pagzplay]

Mucus plugs can happen at any time and you can have your Cannula change or use Suction Equipment because it is portable. I was at a Support Group Meeting and Vent Alarm goes off and you need to stop and get suctioned and right in front of everyone because it needs to get done. You need to plan ahead to go anywhere and it can happen at a Movie if you get mucus plugs when you are there and recline back to get suctioned But if you go places you need to bring extra Batteries because you only have so many hours of Breathing if you are not somewhere to be plugged in. The best thing is to have everything you need with you and I have a lot of Equipment that runs on batteries so we bring the Charger so I can be plugged in when you get to a place with an outlet for my Equipment. So it is possible to go places on Breathing Support if you plan ahead but you still need to think about things like Mucas Plugs and Battery life because that is important and you really do not know how long the batteries will last if you are going for a longer period of time and not able to get plugged in there.

[@LifewithaVent]

That is great advice. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@pagzplay]

@@LifewithaVent It was a good question to ask because if mucus plugs happen at home they can happen anywhere else too. That is why you always need someone else with you to do whatever needs to be done because you need to go Places like your medical appointments all the time and you want to try to do something else and go there sometimes but you just need to plan ahead and even at my Support Group meetings nobody stays there more than a couple of hours because you need Care done but it is great just to be there for that long and go back home.

[@LifewithaVent]

@@pagzplay Thank you so much for sharing. That is great advice to plan ahead.

[@GretchenParker-qe1tx]

I'm a big fan of you . I love your channel ❤❤❤

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you.

[@godsgirl7201]

They would be great if you could go to different colleges and share your story❤❤

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you. That is a great suggestion.

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

This was a very thorough anser, but no outtake? LOL! Keep up the good work.

[@LifewithaVent]

Sorry about that. Sometimes I forget to include outtakes.

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

@@LifewithaVent oh, you’re fine. Lol! I just find them very humorous, but you’re there to do something very serious and I totally get it. Thanks for responding to me.

[@LifewithaVent]

@@crazyrobotlady3391 Thanks for letting me know you like the outtakes. I will try to be more mindful and include them in my videos.

[@ianuit]

Hi, I am a physical therapist. Are you able to cough and clear phlegm? Do you use any form of cough augmentation or use a cough assist machine? Thanks for sharing

[@LifewithaVent]

Hello. Thank you for your questions. I am able to cough, but my cough reflex is weak. When I get sick, my cough is very ineffective. My doctor applied for me to get a cough assist machine at home. It was denied by my insurance.

[@12nurse]

Hi sister

[@LifewithaVent]

Hello.

[@pagzplay]

I think that mucus plugs are not something that people who are not Breathing on a Vent know about and Suction Equipment and Battery Life and everything else.

[@LifewithaVent]

Great point.

[@pagzplay]

@@LifewithaVent I think that they asked because they think that you are always at home and have everything there so what would happen when you go places and they do not know what equipment you need and that you can take it with you but just need to always have it with you and someone to do it when someone needs to be done.

[@LifewithaVent]

@@pagzplay That is great insight. Thank you for sharing.

[@ChepuriAnvesh-ei8wh]

Mam my father was suffering from Parkinson disease since 10 yrs and recently got lung infection due to swallowing problem and doctor advised to take tracheostomy. Is there any alternative or side effects for this treatment?

[@LifewithaVent]

Hello. Thank you for sharing some of your story. Those would be good questions to ask your father's doctor.

[@smartguy5592]

Thank you so much, can I get you Email?

[@LifewithaVent]

Yes. Here is it: [e-mail]